A recent study examined public comments from Canadians regarding deemed consent legislation, which automatically assumes consent for deceased organ donation. The study found that while some people supported the legislation, others raised concerns about individual autonomy and potential errors. The authors emphasize the importance of pu...
A 166-million-year-old Scottish fossil, Bellairsia gracilis, provides insights into the early evolution of lizards. The nearly complete skeleton reveals a mix of ancestral and modern features, shedding light on the ancestry of squamates, which include lizards and snakes.
A study of 10 million Reddit comments reveals equal public interest in female and male politicians, yet with significant differences in how they are discussed. Female politicians were often referred to by their first names or bodies, whereas men's professions were highlighted more frequently, suggesting a subtle yet persistent bias.
A research team from DTU has successfully designed and built a structure that concentrates light in a volume 12 times below the diffraction limit, paving the way for revolutionary new technologies. The breakthrough could lead to more sustainable chip architectures that use less energy.
A Japanese research team has synthesized isotopic atropisomers, a rare class of compounds, using ortho-CH3/CD3 discrimination. The resulting isotopic atropisomers exhibit high rotational stability and stereochemical purity.
A University of Central Florida researcher has received NASA funding to further develop a novel rocket engine system that could revolutionize space travel by improving engine efficiency and reducing costs. The project focuses on rotating detonation rocket engines, which use high-energy explosions to produce more energy with less fuel.
The University of Minnesota is leading a comprehensive global clinical study to reveal the functional effects of vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) across the human body. The $21M REVEAL project aims to assess autonomic, cardiovascular, metabolic, immune, and gastrointestinal function in response to VNS parameters.
Researchers found that harbour seals can discriminate between regular and irregular rhythmic patterns, as well as fast and slow tempos. This ability suggests that seals possess a sense of rhythm, which may be linked to their vocal learning capabilities.
The American Ornithological Society has awarded $15,000 Kessel Research Fellowships to Dr. Umesh Srinivasan and Dr. Amberleigh Henschen to support their ornithological research. Dr. Srinivasan will study the biotic and abiotic determinants of altitudinal migration in insectivorous birds, while Dr. Henschen will investigate the genetic ...
The American Society of Anesthesiologists presented Dr. James D. Grant with the Distinguished Service Award for his contributions to physician leadership, education, and advocating for patient safety. Dr. Grant has also held various positions within ASA and other organizations, including president and member of the Board of Directors.
A europium-based thin-film coating has been developed to convert UV light to red light, accelerating plant growth. The technology was tested on Swiss chard plants and Japanese larch trees, showing a 1.2-1.4 times greater plant height and biomass in winter conditions.
Researchers created a thermally stable anatase material for sodium-ion batteries, overcoming key challenges of poor electron conductivity and ion diffusion. The material exhibits good rate performance and excellent cycling stability, with a reversible specific capacity of 228 mAh g−1.
Researchers at Carnegie Mellon University's Robotics Institute have developed a sensor called ReSkin that allows robots to feel cloth layers, enabling tasks such as folding laundry. The team taught the robot to grasp and manipulate cloth using tactile sensing, overcoming challenges of computer vision-based approaches.
Researchers propose experience cocreation to transform shared coupons into a tool for relationship building, suggesting it can boost social goals and alleviate norm conflict. The study recommends three steps for managers to utilize social influence, including sending reminder messages that emphasize economic and social value.
A report by Oregon State University and international scientists reveals that the Earth's vital signs have worsened, with 16 of 35 planetary indicators at record extremes. This includes increasing frequency of extreme heat events, rising global tree cover loss, and a greater prevalence of the mosquito-borne dengue virus.
A new study published in Nature found that globalized supply chains for the solar industry saved countries $67 billion in production costs between 2006 and 2020. The study also estimates that strong nationalistic policies could increase solar panel prices by 20-25% by 2030, hindering efforts to meet climate targets.
The Honeycrisp apple genome has been sequenced, providing valuable resources for understanding genetic traits and enhancing breeding efforts. The U.S. apple industry is worth $23 billion annually, with Honeycrisp being its most valuable cultivar due to its favorable traits such as crispness and cold-hardiness.
The NIHR Global Health Research Centre will collaborate with communities across Latin America to develop low-cost solutions for improving healthcare for non-communicable diseases. The centre aims to strengthen research capacity and provide formal training for local researchers and clinicians.
MIT researchers have developed a new approach to assemble nanoscale devices from the bottom up, using precise forces to arrange particles and transfer them to surfaces. This technique enables the formation of high-resolution, nanoscale features integrated with nanoparticles, boosting device performance.
A recent study by West Virginia University sociologists found that individuals with paranormal beliefs are more likely to be hesitant about vaccination. These beliefs, which include astrology and spirits, lead to a lack of confidence in science and vaccines, including the COVID-19 shot.
The study found that BRAF alterations, particularly Class I mutations like v600E, are associated with improved overall survival in adults with glioma. However, the effectiveness of targeted therapies depends on the specific type and combination of genetic alterations driving the cancer.
Researchers found that groups using multivoting proved more effective in identifying the best choice, with 50% higher accuracy than plurality and ranked-choice voting. Multivoting allows individuals to allocate votes across options, promoting deeper information processing before discussion.
Researchers at Purdue University and the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, have developed a metamaterial that can learn to adapt to its surroundings on its own. The material uses shape to store information in microseconds, allowing drones to quickly recall patterns associated with dangerous conditions.
Researchers investigated open star clusters, finding they dissolve faster than predicted by Newton's laws. The team developed a new method to count stars in tidal tails, revealing a significant difference in the number of stars between the front and rear tails.
Researchers developed a novel 'nanoglue' strategy to stabilize atomically dispersed metal catalysts, achieving both high catalytic activity and stability. The nanoglues concept involves isolating metal atoms on small islands, suppressing migration to neighboring sites.
The American Association for Thoracic Surgery published an Expert Consensus Document recommending use of mechanical circulatory support before, during, and after lung transplantation. The guidelines include recommendations for veno-venous ECMO and central veno-arterial ECMO.
Researchers found that autistic women are more vulnerable to psychiatric conditions and hospitalization than men, with a higher risk of depression, anxiety disorders, and self-harm. The study suggests that healthcare needs to be expanded for young adults, especially autistic women, to detect mental illness in time.
A unique bacterium found in the gut microbiome may trigger an autoimmune response that leads to rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in individuals already at risk. The discovery opens up possibilities for targeted therapies and prevention strategies.
Researchers found that protected Indigenous lands have higher forest integrity than non-protected areas in all regions analyzed, including the Americas and Africa. However, within Indigenous lands without overlap with protected areas, forest health was actually worse off than non-protected areas.
Dr. Michael W. Champeau has been named the new president of the American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA). As president, he aims to preserve physician-led anesthesia care and implement fair surprise medical bill legislation. He is committed to advancing the specialty and ensuring patient safety.
Researchers at Linköping University identified the brain cells necessary for a fever reaction in mice, finding that prostaglandin production in these cells is both necessary and sufficient for triggering a fever response. This breakthrough sheds light on the body's defense mechanism against infection and inflammation.
A recent study found that ECMO survivors have a 24% higher rate of new mental health diagnoses compared to other ICU survivors. The study, published in JAMA, analyzed data from over 3,800 patients and found that depression, anxiety, and traumatic disorders were the most common diagnoses.
Researchers at UVA Children's will use a sophisticated computer model to better understand and treat Crohn's disease, which can have lifelong consequences for young patients. The team hopes to identify biological markers or metabolic signatures that can be used for early diagnosis and personalized medicine.
A new study by Dr. Geva Shenkman Lachberg found that there are no differences between same-sex parents and heterosexual parents when it comes to their desire for more children. The ideal number of children in families surveyed was around three, similar to the national average.
A multi-year initiative aimed at improving HIV health outcomes for Black men who have sex with men found improvements in retention in care, receipt of HIV prescriptions, and viral suppression. The project used evidence-based approaches to link, engage, and retain Black MSM with HIV in medical care and supportive services.
A recent study by Simon Fraser University researcher Julia Smith found that women healthcare providers experienced 'double distress' in both their workplaces and homes during the COVID-19 pandemic. The researchers listened to stories of women participants to understand the challenges they faced, including inadequate staffing, lack of c...
Research finds that school discipline and policing predict higher levels of substance use, developmental risk, binge drinking, smoking, and violence among students. The study also highlights the need for resources and services to address root causes of disciplinary and health problems.
A team of researchers at CU Boulder used X-ray CT scans to study the internal structure of bee swarms, revealing a sophisticated mathematical rule governing their arrangement. The discovery could lead to insights into how bees maintain stability despite having tiny brains and could inspire the design of more resilient buildings or robots.
A Phase II study found that the combination of relatlimab and nivolumab was safe and completely cleared all viable tumor in 57% of patients with stage III melanoma before surgery. The overall pathologic response rate was 70%, with no grade 3 or 4 immune-related adverse events reported.
A new study published in Nature Human Behaviour found that mimicking facial expressions of actors or moving the corners of one's mouth to cheeks increases happiness. Researchers from Stanford University and UniSA tested three techniques, with two yielding noticeable results.
A study by University of Louisville researchers found that exposure to e-cigarette aerosols can cause heart arrhythmias in animal models, promoting arrhythmias and cardiac electrical dysfunction. The study suggests that certain flavors or solvent vehicles in e-liquids may disrupt the heart's electrical conduction and provoke arrhythmias.
A review of COVID-19 and other adult vaccination efforts found that cash transfers and lottery programs had limited outcomes in increasing vaccination rates, with some studies showing a slight over 2% increase in coverage. Non-cash incentives also showed no significant impact on vaccination uptake.
Cubic boron arsenide's high thermal conductivity and surprising long-lasting 'hot' electrons make it a promising material for photovoltaic and light detection applications. Researchers visualize the charge movement in single crystals using scanning ultrafast electron microscopy, revealing new transport properties.
Researchers found that two-dose CoronaVac vaccination schedules, spaced 2 or 4 weeks apart, elicit similar immune responses against SARS-CoV-2 variants. The study suggests that either schedule can provide equal protection against COVID-19.
The review discusses how functional carbon materials (FCMs) tackle dendrite growth in metal batteries through surface chemistry, multi-dimensional carbon material engineering, and defects engineering. FCMs provide metal deposition sites, guide ion flux, and shield dendrites.
Researchers analyzed S. lugdunensis isolates from pediatric patients and found that skin infections were a common source (68%), while CNS infections linked to VP shunts were also significant. Flucloxacillin was identified as effective against the bacterium.
A recent study found that patients treated with the combination of chemoradiation therapy and immunotherapy in a phase 3 clinical trial did not experience significant safety concerns. The treatment regimen showed no significant increase in toxicity compared to standard trimodality therapy alone.
A University of Queensland study analyzed tree ring data to understand cosmic radiation 'storms', known as Miyake Events. The research suggests that these events are not correlated with sunspot activity and may be a kind of astrophysical 'storm' or outburst.
A study published in European Journal of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging identified specific genetic markers associated with high risk of head and neck cancer. The research used DNA sequencing, artificial intelligence, and positron emission tomography to analyze cellular characteristics of tumors. These markers can facilitate mo...
Researchers found that the brain's defense system is activated during selfless helping behavior, contrary to the long-held idea that empathy drives such actions. The study used fMRI scans to measure brain activity in 49 healthy volunteers who were asked to decide whether to help another person avoid discomfort.
A new study from the University of South Australia found that severe vitamin D deficiency is associated with a higher risk of mortality. The research evaluated 307,601 records from the UK Biobank and found that individuals with low vitamin D levels had a significantly decreased risk of death over a 14-year follow-up period.
Researchers have found a drug that targets the key, cancer-causing gene MYC has been able to inhibit its function safely and effectively. Eight out of 12 patients showed stabilisation of disease after treatment with OMO-103, with one patient experiencing a reduction in tumour-derived DNA circulating in the blood stream.
Researchers from University of Colorado Boulder develop equation learning technique, WSINDy, to grasp how body rebuilds skin and accelerate wound healing. The method can apply to various phenomena in the natural world, including flocking behavior in birds.
Researchers estimate that opening protected areas to mining would lead to the destruction of 183 km² of forest and further loss of 7,626 km² due to infrastructure construction. The study highlights the need for strategic planning and environmental impact assessments before making changes to conservation policies.
The European Union has awarded a €11.3 million grant to the HEAVYMETAL research project, which aims to investigate chemical element synthesis in neutron star mergers. The project brings together experts from different fields to explore kilonova explosions and decipher the details of observed spectra.
Researchers at HSE University used transcranial magnetic stimulation to suppress brain activity in the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex, leading to test subjects making less rational decisions. The study provides insight into the mechanisms behind gaming addiction and offers a potential new approach to understanding risky choice.
The University of Missouri has earned an $8 million grant from the National Institutes of Health to expand its National Swine Resource and Research Center. The center will support research using genetically modified pigs to study human diseases, with a focus on therapies that can be translated from pig models to humans.
Researchers at KTH Royal Institute of Technology have developed a new kind of wood-based degradable plastic with semi-structural strength, enabling the replacement of fossil-based materials in home construction and furnishing. The material can be broken down without harming the environment, allowing for recycling and reuse of fibers.
Researchers have developed a new therapy that uses CAR T cells to target macrophages in tumors, reducing their growth and increasing anti-tumor immunity. The treatment was shown to be effective in preclinical models of ovarian, lung, and pancreatic cancers.
Researchers at VCU Massey Cancer Center have identified a new therapeutic target for triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC), a more aggressive and deadly form of disease. Using CRISPR/CAS9 screening, scientists pinpointed the UBA1 enzyme as an ideal target, which can be inhibited by the novel drug TAK-243 to effectively kill cancer cells.