Researchers at University of Tsukuba found that low blood-oxygen levels affect executive control-related neural activity and cognitive performance during exercise. Maintaining oxygen saturation can prevent these effects, suggesting oxygen supply is crucial for cognitive function in low-oxygen environments.
Researchers found that lamivudine improved cognition in a mouse model of Down syndrome, which could lead to new pharmacological treatments for cognitive impairment. The study highlights the potential of targeting retrotransposons, segments of DNA that contribute to neurodegenerative diseases.
A study examined maternal immune responses and antibody transfer from mother to fetus for different COVID-19 vaccines across pregnancy trimesters. mRNA vaccination induced higher levels and functions against SARS-CoV-2 variants, including Omicron, while first and third trimester vaccination led to enhanced maternal immune responses.
Maternal mortality jumped by 33% after the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, with disproportionate increases among Black and Hispanic mothers. Existing disparities emerged, including a 40% jump for non-Hispanic Black women and a 74% jump for Hispanic women.
A study of over three million patients found that post-operative atrial fibrillation increases the risk of hospitalization for heart failure. The risk is present regardless of whether surgery was performed for a heart condition, and can be as high as doubling in non-heart-related conditions.
Researchers at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign created a high-resolution map of the bearded dragon's brain, providing a standardized protocol for future clinical cases. The study identified nine anatomic structures in the brain and developed a safe and efficient MRI and sedation protocol.
Researchers discovered that blocking certain acetylcholine receptors in the lateral habenula balances reward and aversion, making it harder to resist seeking cocaine. This finding identifies a new role for these receptors as a potential target for treating cocaine use disorder.
New research finds that limiting global warming to 1.5°C could reduce human exposure to water scarcity, heat stress, and vector-borne diseases by 10-44% globally. The study also identifies West Africa, India, and North America as regions with projected increased climate change risks.
Metal-organic framework (MOF) nanosheet research has made significant advances in gas recovery and sensing materials. Professor Makiura's review article summarizes the development of MOF nanosheets on water surfaces, showcasing their potential for separation membranes and sensor miniaturization.
Researchers from the University of Würzburg have developed precision antibacterials using mRNA technology, targeting specific genes in uropathogenic Escherichia coli. The study shows that these active agents can effectively block only one specific gene, and reducing their size to nine base pairs can minimize non-specific binding.
Brazilian researchers surveyed 900 volunteers during the pandemic, finding that time expansion (feeling time passes slowly) was associated with loneliness and a lack of positive experiences. Time pressure (feeling time flies quickly) was also influenced by loneliness and stressful situations.
A study analyzing over 30,000 posts on a Neo-Nazi website found that white supremacists use the abortion debate to promote racist and extremist agendas. The researchers warn that science and medicine are being 'weaponized' to attract recruits and spread dangerous ideologies. Abortion rights are a contested issue in the US, with far-rig...
Rainforest chimpanzees are digging wells to access and filter cleaner drinking water due to the limited availability of clean water during the dry season. The behaviour has been observed spreading among young chimps and adult females, with some males using the wells dug by others.
Researchers showcase electrospun nanomaterials' advantages over conventional materials for wearables. They offer enhanced porosity, breathability, and biocompatibility, enabling rapid charging, high energy storage capacities, and comfortable wearability.
Researchers found that the eyes of tadpoles undergo significant changes in gene expression and photoreceptor cell sensitivity to adapt to life on land. The study reveals that 42% of genes involved in vision changed between tadpole and juvenile frog stages, enabling better adaptation to a bluer light environment.
Scientists review recent experiments and find noise regulations may need to be changed to protect marine mammals from pile driving noise. The current guidance is 7 years old and may not provide sufficient protection for species like harbor porpoises and seals.
Scientists studied embryonic development in fish and cartilaginous fish, revealing that the jaw shares a common developmental origin with the gill. The findings support the theory that the jaw evolved by modification of an ancestral gill, which was previously considered controversial.
A study by ETH Zurich researchers shows a sharp increase in opioid poisoning cases and sales in Switzerland between 2000 and 2019, with oxycodone being the second most common cause. The rise is similar to that seen in other European countries, but per capita sales are higher in Switzerland.
A study by Stephen T. Casper examines how sports slang, such as 'punch-drunk,' influenced the conceptualization and treatment of brain injuries. The research reveals a culture that stigmatized sufferers and normalized male violence, making it difficult for medical professionals to diagnose and treat neurodegenerative disease.
The study found substantial variability in total cost of ownership (TCO) across different car segments and user profiles. TCOs are lower for battery electric vehicles (BEVs) without subsidies, making them more attractive to consumers and policymakers.
Flinders University researchers describe a new genus of giant fossil kangaroo from PNG, diverging from Australian kangaroos and belonging to a unique species. The discovery sheds light on New Guinea's faunal history, with the animal likely evolving from ancient lineages in the late Miocene epoch.
The study found that the use of comics for humour, visual-verbal interplay, informality, simple narrative plots, and exaggerated personalities contributed to the campaign's enduring success. The researchers argue that humour is a powerful discursive strategy to educate the public, making content relatable while addressing taboo topics.
Researchers found no association between social behavior and parasite infection in Asian elephants, despite studying three key aspects of their social life. The study suggests that social benefits may outweigh the costs of sociality for these animals.
Researchers propose a new framework for understanding how our prefrontal cortex makes decisions, highlighting the role of ventromedial prefrontal cortex in assigning value to options and medial prefrontal cortex in confidence and deliberation. The study's findings can be generalized to other types of behavior, such as judgments.
Pediatric mental health ED visits increased by 27% during COVID-19 pandemic, mainly for suicide and self-injury, with higher admission rates for severe cases
Researchers analyzed 47,112 Reddit comments to identify elements of tone and style linked to hyperpartisan echo chambers. Language features such as strong emotion, familiarity pronouns, and face-to-face conversation markers are common in hyperpartisan comments.
A recent study found that hydroxymethanesulfonate (HMS) accounts for a significant portion of Fairbanks' fine particulate pollution, with concentrations substantially higher than observed elsewhere. The research sheds light on the causes and makeup of dirty air in the community.
Researchers developed a new film-forming additive that significantly enhances sodium ion battery performance, resulting in a 52% increase in capacity retention after 100 cycles. The additive improves the stability of hard carbon anodes, leading to improved long cycle performance and potential for commercial use in sodium ion batteries.
A large study found that adult cancer survivors have a 42% greater risk of cardiovascular disease than those without cancer. The highest risks were seen in breast, lung, colorectal, and hematological/lymphatic cancers, while prostate cancer did not significantly increase the risk.
Research funded by UKRI Global Challenges Research Fund reveals agroecological practices like agroforestry improve farmers' financial savings, land area, and household assets. Adopting such practices can also enhance food security and wellbeing for smallholder farmers in rural Tanzania.
A new digital PCR technique helps identify mutations in malaria parasites that evade detection by rapid tests, reducing false negatives. This allows for more accurate selection of diagnostic tests tailored to specific regions.
A recent survey revealed significant gaps in cancer screening among women aged 50-64, with rates as low as 50% for colorectal cancer and 46.5% for both cancers. The study found that patient-centered approaches to screening can facilitate timely testing and management of abnormal results.
Valleytronics researchers develop a novel 2D material that enhances the utility of excitons, leading to potentially faster logic operations and room-temperature quantum computing. The material's interlayer excitons exhibit longer lifetimes than intralayer counterparts, expanding applications in long-life exciton devices.
Researchers found remains of over 40 wood mice and numerous insects, including the grain weevil, in prehistoric wells in southern France. The discovery suggests that people developed resilience against pests by switching to more resistant grains like glume wheat around 4000 BCE.
A new robotic system, FuseBot, has been developed to efficiently retrieve buried objects in piles. The system uses radio frequency signals and computer vision to reason about the probable location and orientation of objects under the pile, enabling it to find more hidden items than a state-of-the-art robotics system in half the time.
A birth cohort study found that muscular strength is associated with higher risk of psychotic symptoms, which may be mediated by advanced glycation end products (AGEs) in adolescence. Low muscular strength was linked to higher levels of pentosidine, a representative AGE, and increased thought problems as a psychotic symptom indicator.
The BirdNET app uses AI to automatically identify bird species by sound, allowing users to contribute data without expertise. Since its launch in 2018, over 2.2 million people have contributed data, successfully replicating known patterns of song dialects and mapping bird migration across continents.
Scientists have discovered calcium polyhydrides that become superconductive with critical transition temperatures above 210K at high pressures. The findings suggest prospects for these superconductors in various applications.
A new technique for detecting typhoidal Salmonella infections has been developed, allowing for faster and more accurate tracking of infections, particularly in rural areas. The approach detects typhoid antibodies in dried blood spots, providing valuable information for vaccination planning and disease surveillance.
A team of researchers, led by Jason Ladner, conducted a genetic study to determine the origin of snake fungal disease in the US. The study revealed that there were likely multiple introductions of the fungus from other countries, shedding light on the emergence of the disease.
Researchers at the Paris Brain Institute identified a key brain network for visual mental imagery in a patient with a left occipitotemporal lesion. The study found that the fusiform imagery node, linked to language and semantic systems, remained intact despite the lesion.
By using the brain's visual response as feedback, researchers can reconstruct images of simple objects in real-time. The technique has potential applications in augmenting human capabilities and could one day be used to bring together human and artificial intelligence.
Researchers detected nonvisual traces of fire in ancient stone tools and fossil remains from Evron Quarry site, pushing the timeline of controlled fire use back to 800,000 years. The discovery suggests that early humans were experimentalists and could have played a crucial role in human evolution.
A nationwide study found that nearly 8 out of 10 physicians believe the chances of a desired outcome are greater than the probability of individual steps leading to that outcome. This phenomenon, known as conjunction fallacy, can lead to unnecessary delays and harm to patients.
Researchers from Ruhr-University Bochum have identified modified plant compounds that can effectively inhibit the replication of the hepatitis E virus. The study found that these compounds, known as rocaglates, have a stronger effect than natural ones, with some showing inhibition at concentrations as low as 0.5 nanomolar.
Scientists analyzed over 30% of populations in an ecological database and found evidence of chaotic dynamics, contradicting previous findings. The research suggests that intrinsic limits exist to ecological forecasting and caution against equilibrium-based approaches for conservation and management, particularly for short-lived species.
Research reveals associations between cardiovascular risk factors, low physical fitness, and decreased neural activity in the social brain network, leading to social cognitive function decline. A healthy lifestyle may mitigate this decline through targeted interventions.
A new sorting technology at Chalmers University of Technology reduces fish waste by up to 50%, creating five nutritious cuts from the whole fish. The innovation is being implemented in a Swedish herring processing plant, which aims to produce healthier and more sustainable food products.
Research finds that cannabis users have a significantly higher risk of emergency room visits and hospital admissions for any cause. However, the study did not find a significant link between cannabis use and respiratory health issues. The authors conclude that further research is needed to confirm their findings.
A Mayo Clinic study of 10,775 high-risk adult patients during the COVID-19 delta surge found that treatment with anti-spike neutralizing monoclonal antibodies led to low rates of severe disease, hospitalization, and mortality. The rates were lowest for patients treated with sotrovimab, with only 1.2% developing severe disease.
A study from Japan's University of Tokyo reveals that users can form a strong sense of ownership with virtual robotic arms, expanding their perceived personal space. The research aims to inform the design of real-life supernumerary robotic limb systems that people can use naturally.
A new study led by researchers at Harvard Medical School identifies a novel mechanism underlying the selective ability of immune cells to differentiate between self and non-self. The discovery sheds light on how T cells learn to recognize proteins made by thymus cells that mimic various tissues throughout the body.
A study published in Molecular Cell has identified a protein, MSRA, whose level of expression acts as a molecular switch between primary cancer growth and metastasis in PDA cells. The researchers found that high levels of MSRA expression keep the growing cells as part of the primary tumor, while low levels trigger metastasis.
Researchers have created a tunable liquid crystal grating based holographic 3D display system that achieves a wide viewing angle of 57.4°, seven times greater than conventional systems. The system can also enlarge the size of holographic images by up to 4.2 times and is simple to operate.
A new GPU-based machine learning algorithm, ReAL-LiFE, can rapidly analyze large amounts of data from diffusion Magnetic Resonance Imaging (dMRI) scans of the human brain. This allows for faster analysis and prediction of brain connectivity, enabling better understanding of brain-behaviour relationships at scale.
Columbia Engineers propose using a time lens to control individual photons, resolving them with picosecond resolution. This breakthrough enables the manipulation of photon spectra and spectral bandwidths, essential for building quantum information networks.
Eating more protein during weight loss helps avoid lean mass loss and promotes healthier eating habits, according to a Rutgers study. The study found that higher protein intake is associated with increased green vegetable consumption, reduced refined grain and sugar intake, and improved retention of lean muscle mass.
Residents in predominantly Black communities are more likely to live near a hospital with a certified stroke center but face lower chances of receiving optimal treatment. The study also reveals significant disparities in access to stroke centers based on income and geographic location.
Scientists have created new fluorescent chemical compounds for photodynamic therapy of cancerous tumors, which can stain affected tissues and destroy tumor cells without harm to healthy ones. The compound containing pyrene shows the highest fluorescent and anticancer activity.
A new study found that doctors working overnight shifts are less likely to prescribe pain relievers due to decreased empathy for patient pain. This bias can lead to under-prescription of analgesics, especially at night shifts, highlighting the need for more structured guidelines and education.