A team of researchers from Ritsumeikan University in Japan has elucidated the mechanism behind the liquid-solid phase transition of FUS protein that leads to ALS. They discovered a new therapeutic target, arginine, which suppresses FUS aggregation and could delay ALS progression.
Researchers have discovered that viruses modify the host's translation machinery to optimize protein production. The chikungunya virus genome is enriched in non-optimal triplets, yet it expresses viral proteins efficiently. Viral infection induces a change of language in the cell, enabling efficient expression of viral proteins.
A team led by Jianxi Gao developed equations to measure and compare distances to tipping points across various mutualistic systems, allowing for the triage of declining ecosystems. This method enables the identification of areas that need intervention most urgently, providing a critical sense of urgency to mobilize resources.
A clinical trial has shown that full-dose anticoagulation therapy is more effective than standard-dose prophylactic anticoagulation in preventing blood clotting complications in COVID-19 patients. The study found a significant reduction in venous or arterial clotting complications among patients who received full-dose treatment.
A 21% relative risk reduction in reported high-risk HIV behavior was found for single mothers with a State-level Earned Income Tax Credit (SEITC) of 10% or above the Federal EITC. A 10 percentage-point increase in SEITC was also linked to a 38% relative reduction in high-risk behavior.
A recent study has identified genetic variants in 10 genes that elevate a person's susceptibility to Crohn's disease, a form of inflammatory bowel disease. The research highlights the causal role of mesenchymal cells in intestinal inflammation, shedding light on the genetic roots of inflammatory bowel disease.
A new preclinical model of thymic cancer reveals how a common mutation sparks tumor formation and identifies potential targets for therapy. The model, developed by Weill Cornell Medicine researchers, shares molecular characteristics with human thymic tumors, paving the way for new treatments.
Researchers at the Florida Museum of Natural History found that frog forelimbs are not just for jumping, but also for fighting and grasping mates during reproduction. The fused radius and ulna bones provide strength and weight reduction, while also increasing stress on the tendon connecting to the bone.
Kaunas University of Technology researchers collaborated with citizens to create a sustainable takeaway food package made from cardboard. The innovative design features heat-resistant materials, adjustable inserts, and clear recycling instructions, reducing plastic waste and promoting environmental responsibility.
Researchers discovered that a naturally insulating material, lanthanide-doped upconversion nanoparticle (UCNP), emits bursts of superfluorescence at room temperature and regular intervals. This property is valuable for quantum optical applications, such as faster microchips or neurosensors.
Research from the University of Georgia found that physically active high school students were 23% more likely to use e-cigarettes than their less active peers. The study linked physical activity levels to risk of e-cigarette use among American adolescents.
A team of researchers from Florida Atlantic University and Tel Aviv University are investigating the connection between neuroimmune serotonergic interactions and Alzheimer's-related mood disorders. By studying mice with AD-linked mutations, they aim to determine if immune-serotonin crosstalk plays a role in depressive traits.
Researchers found that brief rapamycin exposure in early adulthood can prevent age-related decline and extend lifespan. The study used fruit flies and mice to test the effects of short-term drug administration, showing protection against intestinal pathology and increased health span.
A large cross-sectional study found that baseline plasma antigen levels are highly associated with both the severity of pulmonary illness and clinically important patient outcomes in hospitalized COVID-19 patients. Higher antigen levels were linked to increased risk of pulmonary worsening and delayed hospital discharge.
A study published in The Lancet reveals that AI-based risk profiling can improve treatment outcomes for women with heart attacks. By accounting for sex-related differences, the novel score refines current risk models and reduces mortality rates among female patients.
Researchers found that certain molten salts can suppress dye aggregation in dye-sensitized solar cells, improving their performance. The introduction of these ionic liquids enhances photovoltaic parameters without significantly impacting dye adsorption.
A new type of extravascular ICD using a lead placed behind the sternum effectively terminated acute and chronic life-threatening ventricular arrhythmias. The device delivered anti-tachycardia pacing to terminate 70% of ventricular tachycardia episodes, with a defibrillation success rate of 98.7%.
A combination of anemia and weak muscles in older people increases the risk of death by 64% for men and 117% for women. The two conditions together pose a significant risk, especially for elderly women, according to a study published in Archives of Gerontology and Geriatrics.
A new clinical decision support system, MPX-CDSS, has been developed to aid frontline clinicians in identifying and treating patients at risk for monkeypox. The tool is embedded in electronic health records and provides structured screening questions and image upload capabilities.
Researchers assessed neutralizing antibody levels in children up to 16 months post-infection, finding varying immunity levels across age groups. The study's findings suggest a need for personalized vaccination strategies for this vulnerable population.
Researchers from Tsinghua University Press developed an electrocatalytic NO reduction reaction method for producing ammonia, achieving high power density and improved faraday efficiency. The new process has the potential to replace traditional methods and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
Higher SARS-CoV-2 antigen levels in hospitalized patients correlate with worse pulmonary function and longer hospital stays. Antigen levels also predict disease severity and outcomes, suggesting their potential as a biomarker for COVID-19 treatment.
Chapman University biologist Patricia C. Lopes' research shows that our bodies can shift into defense mode before becoming sick, triggered by information from diseased individuals. This physiology change could have major impacts on disease spread and human care.
Researchers at LSU Health New Orleans have identified a critical immunosuppressive pathway and developed an experimental inhibitor to protect T-cells from weakening. The CBL-B inhibitors show great potential in enhancing the efficacy of cancer immunotherapy, making patients' T-cells more effective in killing cancer cells.
A clinical trial found that long-term use of evolocumab led to further reductions in cardiovascular events compared to shorter treatment. Participants who received evolocumab for over 5 years had lower risk of cardiovascular death, myocardial infarction, stroke, and hospitalization.
A new study from the National Institutes of Health RECOVER initiative found that post-acute COVID-19 in children is less common than in adults, but more frequent than hospitalization rates for acute COVID-19. Children with medical complexity and those younger than five years old are at higher risk of long COVID-19.
A PSU study reveals that Republican voters and Black people are among the most hesitant to get vaccinated against COVID-19. The research suggests a regional approach may be more effective than a universal one in boosting vaccination rates.
Researchers developed an alternative metric called Ortega parameters to measure income inequality, distinguishing between low- and high-income earners. This new approach reveals links between inequality and health outcomes, such as obesity and education rates.
A new study by Trinity College Dublin researchers shows that water fluoridation has the lowest environmental impact among community-level caries prevention programmes, offering a sustainable solution to prevent dental decay. The study also highlights its cost-effectiveness and ability to reduce disability-adjusted life years.
Researchers found that intracellular bacteria known as symbionts protect their host amoebae against giant viruses. This discovery suggests a positive effect of the bacterial symbionts on the ecosystem, influencing the flow of nutrients in food webs and potentially impacting ecosystem dynamics.
Neurobiologists identified mechanisms underlying atypical protein tangles that kill neurons in neurodegenerative disorders. Engineering Drosophila adults with human Tau revealed a 'traffic jam' effect, where reduced retromer activity accelerates neurodegeneration. Inhibiting the shortened form of Tau could stall neuron loss.
The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted medical school diversity programs aimed at increasing the diversity of the physician workforce. Long-term outcomes of these disruptions are unknown.
Researchers found that heightened awareness around GMO-related topics leads to an increase in demand for non-GMO products. The shift in consumer preferences was quantified as a 36% increase in new non-GMO product adoption tied to legislative activity, suggesting the role of indirect awareness effects.
A long-term study found that older homeless people are at a high risk of dying, with a median age of death of 64.6 years old. The study also found that people who first became homeless at age 50 or later were about 60 percent more likely to die than those who had become homeless earlier in life.
KU and UChicago researchers are working on identifying human gene sequences that respond to drug therapies through RNA splicing. They hope to overcome the 'undruggable proteome' problem, where approximately 70% of proteins cannot be targeted by drugs.
Children with Down syndrome have a unique preference for food textures, preferring crispy and oily foods over brittle or gooey ones. Researchers found that adding nutritional value to these preferred foods could help improve the children's eating habits and reduce choking incidents.
Research at Karolinska Institutet reveals the glymphatic system malfunctions during bacterial meningitis, causing a buildup of toxic garbage that damages brain cells. The study found increased signs of neuroinflammation and neuronal damage in rats infected with Streptococcus pneumoniae.
A study found that inactivating a specific protein complex, PRC2, leads to impaired gene silencing and loss of neurotransmitter production in nerve cells. This is linked to Parkinson's disease-like symptoms and mental health problems.
The KERI research team developed a one-dimensional Li-confinable porous hollow carbon host to improve Li deposition/dissolution efficiency. The designed Li host showed excellent cycling performance of over 500 cycles under high current density, meeting practicality with mass production technique.
Scientists developed a simple and rapid method to identify multiple food poisoning bacteria using nanometer-scaled organic metal nanohybrid structures that bind via antibodies to specific bacteria. The method can detect various types of bacteria in one hour without culturing, improving food safety.
Researchers from TU Wien and Hebrew University develop 'light trap' that allows complete absorption of light in thin layers using mirrors and lenses. The system works by steering the light beam into a circle and then superimposing it on itself, blocking any escape.
Researchers create new 'roadmap' for turbulence by analyzing weak turbulent flow between two independently rotating cylinders. They discover that turbulence follows a predictable pattern of recurrent solutions, which explain the emergence of coherent structures in turbulent flows.
The Human Brain Project has identified seven new areas in the insular cortex using statistical mapping of cytoarchitecture, providing new insights into its structural organisation. The findings are now available online for future studies addressing relations between structure and function in this complex brain region.
A review of ERAS programs in minimally invasive gynecologic surgery reveals improved patient recovery, reduced postoperative complications, and shorter hospital stays. Implementing ERAS protocols also reduces opioid consumption without increasing complications or healthcare costs.
Researchers have found the oldest visible planetary nebula, a rare celestial jewel, hosted by a 500 million-year-old galactic cluster. The team determined that the PN has a 'kinematic age' of 70,000 years and estimates its progenitor star's mass and residual core's mass.
A Northwestern University study reveals that X-shaped radio galaxies can form through a surprisingly simple process. The simulation, which tracked galactic gas far from the supermassive black hole, found that the galaxy's characteristic X-shape resulted from interaction between jets and infalling gas.
A new analysis by Devin McPhillips reveals that the recurrence interval for earthquakes along some California faults may be 16% longer than previously estimated. This is due to the incorporation of event likelihood, a variable quantifying how likely it is that a past earthquake is real and unique.
Researchers found that adolescents with faster dental biorhythms (5-6 day cycle) weighed less and gained less weight over 14 months. Those with slower biorhythms (7-8 day cycle) produced the greatest weight gain, suggesting a link between tooth growth patterns and metabolic rate.
A new study found that 41% of teenagers can't tell the difference between true and fake online health messages. The researchers suggest focusing on health literacy and media literacy training, as well as skills like analytical thinking and scientific reasoning to help teenagers spot editing cues.
A University of Kentucky-led project aims to understand how aquatic biodiversity in the Great Rift Valley is affected by climate change. The five-year study, funded by $2.5 million from the NSF, will assess scenarios of climate change and its effects on lake ecosystems using high-resolution geological records and genetic tools.
Researchers at the University of Washington developed AquaApp, a mobile app that enables underwater messaging on billions of existing smartphones and smartwatches using software. The app uses acoustic signals to transmit messages and can accommodate up to 60 unique users on its local network.
A study from the University of Minnesota Medical School examines support programs for pregnant and postpartum individuals in six US state prisons. The research highlights the importance of collaboration between program facilitators and prison sites in determining program success.
A new RAND Corporation study found that higher-cost Medicare Advantage plans provided only slightly better care on average compared to lower-cost plans. However, quality varied substantially within each premium cost tier, and some high-quality care was observed among many plans in each tier.
Male bottlenose dolphins in Shark Bay form complex alliances to increase access to females and reproductive success. Their multi-level alliance network, the largest outside humans, shows cooperative relationships can emerge without unique human features.
A recent study published in Nature Communications has revealed that PIF7 and auxin proteins accelerate plant growth when exposed to warm temperatures and canopy shade. This discovery will help scientists predict how plants respond to climate change and increase crop productivity, enabling the development of more resilient crops.
Researchers have made significant breakthroughs in understanding the molecular mechanisms of supratentorial ependymoma, a rare and aggressive form of childhood brain cancer. By targeting the Hedgehog signaling pathway and primary cilia formation, scientists discovered new potential treatments that overcame resistance to existing drugs.
A recent study published in Nature Neuroscience found that a 20-minute non-invasive treatment regimen can improve both short-term and long-term memory in individuals 65 years and older. The treatment involves electrical brain stimulation delivered through scalp electrodes, and its effects were observed to last at least one month.
Researchers at CSU found that a gene called MSH1 helps keep plant mitochondrial genomes mutation-free, allowing for quick sorting of normal and diseased DNA. This process is more efficient in plants than in humans, where mutations are passed down through generations.
Researchers at the University of Bonn have tested color-coded fundus autofluorescence as a supportive novel diagnostic method for posterior uveitis. The results indicate that this ratio can be very characteristic and helpful in differentiating various posterior uveitis subtypes.
Fused-ring electron acceptors (FREAs) have revolutionized the field of organic solar cells, achieving unprecedented efficiencies over 20% and potential operational lifetimes approaching 10 years. The properties of FREAs can be modulated through variations to their electronic structure or molecular packing.