Jochen Zimmer, a UVA professor, has been awarded $9 million by the HHMI to pursue his research on biopolymer transport across biological membranes. His work aims to develop new biomaterials for medicines, food, and energy, potentially combating diseases, hunger, and climate change.
Researchers have found conclusive evidence that a massive cosmic airburst destroyed the biblical city of Tall el-Hammam in the Jordan Valley around 3600 years ago. The impact, which is believed to be equivalent to a 12-megaton explosion, was characterized by temperatures exceeding 2,000°C and the formation of melted metals and glass.
The UTSA Brain Health Consortium will study genetic brain disorders using transgenic marmosets, which could impact treating or eliminating neurological diseases such as epilepsy and Alzheimer’s disease. The team aims to develop novel methods for producing sperm with genetic changes that can be used to study human brain disease.
A new study from the University of Illinois explores methods to reduce sodium in bread, including salt reduction, physical modification, sodium replacements, and flavor enhancers. The researchers recommend a combination of these methods for optimal results.
The ACE2 protein plays a key role in the damage done to insulin-producing cells of the pancreas, increasing the risk of complications from SARS-CoV-2 infections. Inflammation can lead to increased expression of ACE2, making these cells more susceptible to viral infection.
Researchers developed a model using data from over 1.1 million volunteers to identify the 7 most informative symptoms for COVID-19 test allocation. The model predicted PCR positivity with high accuracy, resulting in potential 30% to 40% increase in eligible individuals and 70% to 75% detection of positive cases.
Researchers discovered a combination of two drugs can reduce inflammation following chemotherapy, preventing metastasis in pancreatic and liver cancer. The treatment targets the sEH and EP4 pathways, modulating inflammation to resolve cytokine storms.
A new study at Ohio State University's Comprehensive Cancer Center is using rapid autopsies to gather biological samples after death to better understand how cancer cells overcome different treatments. This approach has already led to novel findings about drug resistance mechanisms, including the recent approval of a targeted therapy f...
The study analyzed mobile phone data from 1.2 million Austrians, revealing that women make significantly longer phone calls and adhere more closely to governmental measures than men. In contrast, men are less likely to have their mobility restricted and return to normal more quickly than women.
McGill University scientists created a new glass and acrylic composite material mimicking nacre for exceptional strength and durability. The material is three times stronger and five times more fracture-resistant than regular glass, with potential applications in phone screens and other industries.
A new study found that maintaining healthy lifestyle habits and having a healthy body weight can significantly lower the lifetime risk of type 2 diabetes in middle-aged adults. The research included over 5,993 participants and analyzed the relationship between cardiovascular health and genetic predisposition to type 2 diabetes.
A new low-dose whey protein microgel shot taken 15 minutes before meals reduces post-meal blood sugar spikes and improves insulin response in people with type 2 diabetes. Glucose levels were reduced by 22% and insulin responses were higher in the whey protein group.
A study found that individuals in occupations with high routine intensity are at risk of becoming unemployed, experiencing higher disability rates, and facing increased mortality. The research highlights the need for governments to assess opportunities for retraining and provide economic support to affected workers.
Researchers identified three new Alicyclobacillus species that can cause spoilage in apple juice. The discovery will allow manufacturers to identify and fine-tune control strategies to reduce waste and improve customer satisfaction.
A study published in Communications Biology reveals that chronic hyperglycemia in diabetes impairs working memory performance by altering the connection between key brain regions. Researchers found that areas critical for forming and retrieving memories were over-connected, leading to errors in remembering correct information.
A multidisciplinary team developed a method for identifying 3-dimensional features of scar tissue after myocardial infarction, enhancing cardiac magnetic resonance imaging's prognostic potential. The new method reveals significant correlation between low scar transmurality and ventricular tachycardia episodes, improving clinical practice.
A global study found that air pollution contributed to almost 6 million premature births and 3 million underweight babies worldwide. Indoor air pollution, mainly from cook stoves, accounted for two-thirds of the measured effects.
Recent INFORMS journal research highlights the use of predictive modeling to forecast wildfire risks and optimize firefighting equipment placement. Additionally, studies investigate strategies to reduce cardiac stenting overuse and improve electric mobility service costs through optimized fleet rebalancing.
Glyscend Therapeutics has initiated a phase 1 clinical trial in Australia investigating an oral polymer therapy that improves glucose homeostasis with weight loss in nonclinical models. The therapy targets mechanisms underlying bariatric surgery and aims to replicate its benefits without the need for surgery.
A new study published in the Journal of Affective Disorders found that older women are more likely to report depressive symptoms than men. The study, which tracked data from over 50,000 people between the ages of 45 and 85, suggests that late life is associated with increased depression rates, particularly among females.
Researchers evaluated the anti-tumor efficacy of DARA conjugated to DM1 via a non-cleavable linker, demonstrating enhanced therapeutic potency and in vivo stability. The study showed that conjugation did not affect the stability or activity of the biologic, and imaging techniques can be applied to other immunotherapies.
A new study of 1328 South Australian high school students aged 13 and 14 found a relatively low proportion admitted to 'sexting' via various electronic mediums. The researchers suggest building a health safety education framework for adolescents to provide skills to navigate pornography as part of sexual education.
The study aims to improve understanding of decarbonization's impact on human health, focusing on the US energy, food, and health nexus. It will develop a framework integrating these sectors to identify strategies yielding overall health benefits.
Scientists successfully differentiate embryonic stem cells into cartilage cells and create three-dimensional pieces of cartilage tissue without any synthetic or natural supporting materials. The generated cartilage tissue is structurally and mechanically comparable to normal human cartilage.
The new guidelines aim to improve scientific reproducibility, accurate comparisons, and avoid misinterpretations in interventional oncology studies. The panel recommended analyzing parameters such as overall survival, disease-free survival, and short-term complications per patient and procedure.
Researchers from the University of Hong Kong have discovered a genuine topological Mott insulator in twisted bilayer graphene models. The system's unique properties lead to exotic behavior, including insulating and superconducting phases.
The living retina achieves sensitivity and efficiency that human engineers can only dream about, with optimized mosaics of different sensitivities parsing 40 visual features. The retinas adapt to current conditions and conserve energy by tuning out noise, making them orders of magnitude less power-hungry than smartphone sensors.
Researchers developed nanoscale insecticidal hair coating for prolonged anti-lice protection, reducing re-treatments and side effects. The coating, formed using halloysite nanotubes, retains its protective properties after washing the animal's hair.
A special issue of PLOS Medicine explores the social determinants of child and adolescent health, including poverty, pollution, and violence. The studies focus on the intersection of child health and challenging environments, highlighting urgent redirective strategies to achieve the UN Sustainable Development Goals.
A team of Texas Engineers has developed a hybrid sensing approach that allows the device to possess properties of both piezo-capacitive and piezo-resistive sensors. This breakthrough enables soft pressure sensors to withstand pressure without significant decay in sensitivity, opening up new possibilities for wearable devices.
Researchers at Texas A t&M University have developed a method to create defect-free metal parts using laser powder bed fusion 3D printing. By combining machine learning and single-track experiments, they identified favorable alloy chemistries and process parameters to print parts with uniform properties at the microscale.
A recent study from the University of Georgia found that college students who misuse stimulant drugs are also likely to engage in heavy drinking and marijuana use. The research suggests a strong behavioral link among polysubstance users, highlighting the need for universities to be aware of the additive health effects of these behaviors.
A new study found that para-athletes have lower nutritional knowledge compared to university student athletes, with 40% needing help with meal procurement and cooking. This highlights the need for targeted nutrition support and education for para-athletes.
A new study quantifies landscape changes on barrier islands, revealing that storms can create habitat for coastal species. The research found varying impacts from two hurricanes, Irene and Sandy, which reshaped Pea Island National Wildlife Refuge.
A recent Cleveland Clinic study found that patients who use steroid nasal sprays are less likely to develop severe COVID-19-related disease, including lower risk of hospitalization, ICU admission, and mortality. The study showed a 20-25% reduction in these outcomes for patients using intranasal corticosteroids.
A new study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition found that a low-carb diet with high saturated fat levels produced better cardiovascular and metabolic profiles than a low-fat diet. The low-carb diet improved blood lipid profiles, increased adiponectin, and reduced lipoprotein(a), a risk factor for heart disease.
The University of Texas at Arlington has been awarded a National Science Foundation (NSF) grant to explore the development of novel materials. UTA is one of just 10 institutions nationwide to receive this funding, highlighting its commitment to cutting-edge research.
Researchers developed a wearable, biocompatible, and low-cost biosensor that measures electromyography signals in muscles. The sensor uses a gold-silver nanocomposite printed onto fabric, providing a comfortable and effective way to track muscle activity.
The 2021 Fall Meeting of the APS Division of Nuclear Physics presents cutting-edge research on nuclear astrophysics, quantum technology, and rare isotopes. Researchers will discuss breakthroughs such as the most precise measurement of neutron lifetime and novel experiments measuring neutron skin in calcium.
Researchers identified five specific mutations prevalent in Delta Plus infections compared to Delta, highlighting the need for expanded antiviral tools. The findings provide clues on how the virus mutates and evade antibodies produced from previous COVID-19 infections or vaccinations.
Researchers in Berlin examined the impact of pandemic restrictions on student health-related quality of life and found associations between lockdown measures and increased risk of SARS-CoV-2 infections. The study assessed over 1,000 students, teachers and household members during a 2021 lockdown.
A new study published in Psychological Science found that people tend to perceive angry responses as a sign of guilt, even when they're not. The researchers, led by Katherine DeCelles, discovered that calm denials and silence are more indicative of innocence than an angry response.
Researchers analyzed over 120 million English-language tweets to find a decrease in negative posts about COVID-19, particularly in countries with high vaccination rates. The study suggests that increased vaccination may have contributed to the drop in negativity, but further analysis is needed to fully understand this phenomenon.
A survey study of adults in a large U.S. city found that public health messaging improved COVID-19 preventive behaviors over time, but lagged among Hispanic participants who were at higher risk for infection and less likely to receive stimulus checks. Black adults also showed disparities in preventive behaviors.
Research from the University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing indicates that disparities in readmissions between Black and White stroke patients may be linked to the level of nurse staffing in hospitals. Hospitals with better nurse staffing have been shown to reduce racial disparities in stroke readmissions.
Researchers have found that synthetic bile acid Nor-UDCA directly affects the immune system and reduces inflammation in chronic-inflammatory liver disease. The therapy also guides misdirected CD8-T cells back onto their correct path, allowing them to resume their normal function.
Researchers have developed a novel immunotherapy approach using PBMCs to generate TEM/TCM cells for adoptive cell therapy in multiple myeloma. The treatment targets WT1-specific cytotoxic T lymphocytes, which show high sensitivity to MM cells, providing a promising basis for an additional therapeutic strategy.
A new deep neural network-based forward design approach explores material design space beyond the initial training set through active transfer learning and data augmentation. The framework provides an efficient search, mitigating the limitation of weak predictive power on unseen domains.
A PLOS study found that low-frequency magnetic stimulation can improve episodic memory by reducing beta-waves in the brain. The study, led by Mircea van der Plas and Simon Hanslmayr, used slow rTMS over the left prefrontal cortex to enhance verbal memory formation.
A high-fat diet increases the incidence of colorectal cancer by suppressing MHC-II levels in intestinal cells. This disruption allows cancer cells to grow unchecked. Researchers hope that reconfiguring the gut microbiome and boosting immune recognition molecules can help combat cancer.
George Mason University Assistant Professor Zhisheng Yan is leading a project to create augmented 360-degree video for firefighters, enabling remote commanders to visualize the entire emergency scene in all directions. The research aims to enhance firefighting productivity and safety by providing panoramic visual cognition.
The Deep Soil Ecotron will enable scientists to conduct experiments on columns of soil up to three meters deep, improving understanding of how deep soil organisms react to unprecedented conditions and sequester carbon. The facility will also be used to develop sensors to monitor deep soils in the field.
A study of 604 Canadian teens found that high grades lead to higher perfectionism, which can result in anxiety, depression, and decreased motivation. Experts call for parents and educators to foster environments of self-acceptance and acknowledge successes, rather than pushing for perfection.
Researchers studying blood samples from over 12,000 individuals in Ethiopia found that malaria parasites can evade detection by rapid diagnostic tests due to genetic mutations. The study highlights the need for alternative diagnostic approaches and surveillance across the Horn of Africa.
A new study compared the molecular profiles of lung cancer cells grown in 3D and 2D cultures, finding significant differences in protein expression and regulation. The research used a membrane proteomics approach to analyze the NCI-H23 cell line and identified exclusive expressions of CD molecules in 3D culture.
A study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences found that life expectancy gaps between Black and white Americans have narrowed by nearly 50% over the past three decades. Improvements in healthcare access, safety-net programs, and reductions in mortality rates among Black Americans contributed to this decline.
A new study by University of Cambridge researchers proposes abandoning the R rate for tracking pandemics in favor of nowcasts, which forecast daily new cases and deaths based on growth rates. The Harvey-Kattuman model has already proved accurate and effective in predicting COVID-19 waves and spikes worldwide.
A team of researchers at Kennedy Krieger Institute developed a new method to diagnose Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) using a single 2D camera. The Computer Assessment of Motor Imitation (CAMI) method provides greater access to patients and shows accurate assessment with 2D technology.
The BiCIKL project links biodiversity data types and classes across 14 European institutions, creating a Biodiversity Knowledge Hub for seamless access. This initiative streamlines Open Science and FAIR practices, empowering researchers with efficient tools to explore and utilize biodiversity data.
A large trial found that antibiotic amoxicillin has little effect on relieving symptoms in children with uncomplicated chest infections. The study also highlights the need for 'safety-netting' advice to parents, explaining illness course and when re-attendance may be necessary.