CureSHANK is offering $250,000 grants to researchers studying SHANK3-related epilepsy in Phelan-McDermid syndrome. The goal is to improve mechanistic and clinical knowledge of this treatment-resistant form of epilepsy.
Scientists have developed a low-cost and user-friendly technique called UV-LED-based microscope projection photolithography (MPP) for rapid high-resolution manufacturing of optical elements. MPP can fabricate microfluidic devices, biosensors, and other optical devices with feature sizes down to 85 nm.
A recent study found that flocks of birds in North America, Europe, and Asia responded equally strongly to the alarm call of an unfamiliar dusky-throated antshrike. This suggests that sentinel calls may contain a universal signal that allows birds to recognize them across different species and continents.
A new proof-of-concept study demonstrates the use of distributed fiber optic sensing to detect and analyze the sound of periodical cicadas. The technology shows promise for charting the populations of these famously ephemeral bugs, with potential applications in monitoring insect abundance across seasons and years.
Researchers found that vaccination increases immune cell production and antibody levels effective against all tested variants of SARS-CoV-2, including Omicron. Convalescent plasma therapy research provides insight into how the body fights COVID-19 variants.
Researchers at UNC-Chapel Hill and Eastman have developed a new process for making anhydride chemical compounds using nickel as a catalyst, promising cost savings and sustainability. The new process offers a potential alternative to traditional methods that rely on expensive precious metal catalysts.
Researchers discovered bottlenose dolphins' ability to detect weak electric fields, which helps them search for fish hidden in sediment. This newfound sense also enables dolphins to navigate the globe using magnetic maps by sensing the planet's magnetic field at varying speeds.
Employment rates for veterans with disabilities reached historic highs, with 43.8% of veterans with disabilities employed in October 2023, compared to 35.1% for people with disabilities. The Individual Placement and Support (IPS) toolkit showed an impressive success rate of 43% for veterans with chronic spinal cord injury.
Researchers at University College London have discovered that slow waves typically present during sleep can also occur during wakefulness in people with epilepsy, potentially protecting against increased brain excitability. These 'wake' slow waves decrease the impact of epileptic spikes on brain activity and may protect against seizures.
A new study finds that structural racism is a significant contributor to unequal lung cancer risk factors, affecting different racial and ethnic groups differently. The research highlights the need for tailored preventive interventions to address these disparities.
A new deep learning-based detection system has been developed by INU researchers to improve the detection capabilities of autonomous vehicles. The system, aided by IoT technology, generates bounding boxes and confidence scores for visible obstacles using point cloud data and RGB images as input.
A new study uses a large language model to identify patients with postpartum hemorrhage, achieving 95% accuracy and identifying 47% more cases than standard methods. The tool has great promise for helping clinicians predict subpopulations at higher risk of the condition.
Researchers found that ROP proteins evolved during the transition from unicellular to multicellular plant life. ROP proteins are highly conserved between land plants and streptophyte algae, excluding certain species. The study suggests that ROP signaling may have contributed to the evolution of multicellularity in plants.
Research by The Jones Center at Ichauway found that hurricanes increase cone production in longleaf pine by 31% and 71% two years after the event, suggesting a possible explanation for the masting phenomenon. This discovery sheds light on the role of weather conditions in triggering seed germination.
Researchers discovered distinct mechanisms controlling different types of immune cells and found a way to selectively eliminate 'problematic' cells driving autoimmune disorders. This breakthrough offers precise targets for potential treatment strategies, potentially revolutionizing the way we treat skin conditions.
Researchers created multicellular bots from human tracheal cells that move across surfaces and promote healing of damaged neurons in a lab dish. The discovery could lead to new therapeutic tools for regeneration, healing, and disease treatment using patient-derived biobots.
A study in Denmark found that women experience a significant increase in mental health medication use after involuntary temporary work, but men do not. The research suggests that women may struggle more with the emotional and psychological impacts of temporary employment.
A hierarchical platoon control framework is designed to address the influence of external disturbances on CV platoons. The ISM controller eliminates disturbance effects, ensuring stability and string stability in the platoon. Numerical simulations demonstrate the effectiveness of the control strategy.
Scientists identify a link between HIV's gp120 protein and chronic inflammation, leading to premature aging and comorbidities. A clinical trial aims to test the effect of Fostemsavir on reducing cardiovascular diseases and improving quality of life for women living with HIV.
Researchers found that traumatic experiences trigger highly individualized and fragmented brain activity, unlike normal memory formation. This difference may explain why PTSD patients struggle to recall traumatic events coherently.
Researchers found a significant increase in extracellular vesicles released by aged keratinocytes, which were also enriched with specific microRNAs. These EVs impaired young keratinocyte proliferation and organogenesis, mimicking aged skin defects.
A new study by Mass Eye and Ear researchers reveals that individuals with tinnitus experience auditory nerve loss not detected by conventional hearing tests. This discovery provides a better understanding of the origins of tinnitus and offers hope for future treatments and potential cures.
A new study by the University of Miami Rosenstiel School found that carbon dioxide becomes more potent as climate changes, increasing its heat-trapping effect. This means that future CO2 increases will provide a more potent warming effect on climate than past increases.
A new study finds that public incentives for negative emissions can exacerbate economic inequality, especially in countries with concentrated equity ownership and expensive mitigation options. Researchers propose alternative policy provisions to mitigate the increase in inequality while ensuring decarbonization at reasonable cost.
Researchers investigating aerosol pollution's impact on climate change will use NOAA's SPEAR model to project how future climate hazards could be affected by different emission scenarios. The study seeks to characterize the uncertainty of aerosol emissions and their influence on climate change.
A newly discovered Neptune-mass exoplanet orbits a very low-mass M dwarf star, LHS 3154, in just 3.7 days, defying theoretical predictions that smaller stars shouldn't host massive planets. The discovery highlights the need for revised planet formation models.
A new Vanderbilt University Medical Center study found that thiazide diuretics were associated with a 15% lower risk of kidney stones. Higher serum calcium levels also linked to thiazides, supporting the notion that they affect kidney stone risk by modulating calcium excretion.
A recent study published in Nature Communications has identified a key brain molecule responsible for triggering overconsumption of comfort foods after stressful events. The lateral hypothalamic proenkephalin neuron plays a crucial role in driving threat-induced eating associated with negative emotional states.
A new study confirms that pesticides commonly used in farmland significantly harm bumblebees. Data from 106 sites across 8 European countries shows that bumblebees encounter multiple pesticides, resulting in fewer offspring and reduced colony performance.
Outdated medical tools cause delayed recognition and management of adverse reactions in patients of color, leading to significant distress. A more inclusive approach is urgently needed to address structural racism in radiotherapy treatment and education.
Archaeologists recommend using state-of-the-art techniques, such as micromorphology, to analyze evidence and increase confidence in claims about human evolution. This approach aims to rewrite our understanding of human ancestors by uncovering hidden clues in ancient sediments.
A UMass Amherst study identifies building age as key factor in elevated lead levels; facilities built in the 1960s and 1970s are at greatest risk. Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection recommends achieving lowest lead levels possible, with a goal of 1 ppb or less.
A team of researchers successfully synthesized a 1.5-million-year-old antibiotic called paleomycin, which displays potent properties against human pathogens. By tracing the evolutionary path of glycopeptide antibiotics, the team gained insights into the development of new drugs and uncovered a common precursor molecule.
Researchers found that early skin-to-skin contact with parents significantly improves premature babies' social skills at four months old. The study also showed that fathers play a more important role than previously thought in developing their infants' social skills.
Researchers found that coast redwood's massive carbon reserves fueled growth of new leaves after a catastrophic fire, allowing the forest to begin regenerating. However, many trees did not survive, and it may take centuries for the ecosystem to fully recover.
Researchers found that Paleolithic humans intentionally searched for specific types of rocks, like flint, with desirable characteristics for tool-making. They used techniques like the Schmidt Hammer and Rockwell Hardness Device to analyze rock properties.
Scientists at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital created a highly adaptable system to improve the safety and efficacy of immunotherapy for solid tumors. By adding modular chimeric cytokine receptors to CAR T cells, the therapy can target multiple types of cancer without generating significant toxicity.
Researchers analyzed skeletal remains from medieval Cambridge to recreate everyday lives of residents, revealing diet, activities, and bodily traumas. A new study investigates the hospital's inhabitants, showing how a medieval benefits system operated, with selection criteria based on material want, politics, and spiritual merit.
A team of researchers developed a hexagonal BaTiO3−xNy oxynitride catalyst with basicity comparable to that of superbases. The substitution of nitride ions and oxygen vacancies into face-sharing Ti2O9 dimer sites increases the electron density, resulting in a highly basic catalyst.
A study of 3 million US adults found anxiety and depression were significantly higher among younger adults, possibly due to economic conditions and social upheaval. The findings highlight the need for targeted mental health care and economic policies for younger adults during the pandemic.
Researchers discovered that short- and long-range weapons perform differently depending on the competition scenario, with long-range toxins becoming effective at high density and low initial numbers of competing bacteria. This study could help engineer beneficial microorganisms to out-compete pathogenic strains.
Researchers developed an adhesive gel to seal and heal challenging gastrointestinal tract-to-skin connections, showing promising results in studies. The gel's unique composition ensures it can effectively seal fistulas, preventing further complications and aiding in healing.
A research team at City University of Hong Kong has developed a novel performance evaluation method called Information Exchange Surrogate Approximation (IESA) to calculate blocking probabilities in queueing systems with overflow. IESA provides ways to allocate limited resources better, enhancing resource allocation and capacity plannin...
Researchers analyzed Antarctic sediment records to understand past ice sheet behavior, finding frequent and rapid growth and recession cycles over thousands of years. The study suggests that climate factors beyond Earth's orbit may trigger these changes, potentially leading to unexpected ice sheet dynamics in the coming centuries.
A recent study from the University of Copenhagen found that consumers rate vertically farmed greens similarly to organic ones. The study debunked consumer prejudices about vertically grown produce, showing that it can be just as healthy and natural.
Regular exercise training boosts memory and spatial cognition in obese mice, reducing age-related cognitive decline and inflammation. The study highlights the crucial role of physical activity in preventing obesity-induced cognitive dysfunction and neurodegenerative diseases.
Researchers find planet more than 13 times as massive as Earth orbiting ultracool star LHS 3154, challenging current theories of planet formation. The discovery requires reexamination of how planets and stars form, with a heavy planetary core inferred that would need more solid material in the disk.
The study shows that PFAS-treated gear repels water but not oil or hydraulic fluid, posing a flammability hazard to firefighters. The research also reveals that PFAS-free gear performs similarly in terms of strength, but loses its oil-repelling properties after aging tests.
Researchers from SapienCE Centre of Excellence use dripstones to study past climate in South Africa. They found that the region experienced highly variable rainfall and slightly warmer temperatures during a crucial time period for early human occupations.
The Wiedemann-Franz law, a 170-year-old principle, breaks down in quantum materials but remains applicable to copper oxide superconductors. Theoretical studies using the Hubbard model show that electrons' collective behavior explains the discrepancies.
A UK national long-term study of babies found that primary caregivers engage in physical and turn-taking play with their little ones several times a day, activities linked to early language development. Despite added pressure on today's families, parents are creating a healthy home learning environment for their children.
Research on marine amphipod Echinogammarus marinus found that exposure to toxic plastic additives compromises their ability to reproduce successfully. The study, published in Environmental Pollution, tested four widely used chemicals and found that all of them reduced the overall percentage of animals that formed pairs.
Researchers found that specific algae from the genus Breviolum help Caribbean octocorals withstand heat waves and bleaching events. The study provides clues for the future of coral reefs and highlights the need for further research to better understand the ecosystem.
A study on chinstrap penguins found that they accumulate over 11 hours of sleep per day through thousands of 4-second microsleeps. This breaks traditional notions of prolonged sleep bouts and suggests an incremental approach to sleep accumulation.
The research team has successfully developed a noninvasive diagnostic biomarker panel for early oropharyngeal cancer detection, which can differentiate between early cases and controls. The next phase involves evaluating the oral biomarker panel among 100 early and 100 late-stage pre-treatment oropharyngeal cancer cases.
Researchers have developed a treatment that partially restores lost brain function in mouse models of stroke using metabotropic glutamate receptor 5 inhibitors. The treatment improves somatosensory functions, which are lost in around 60% of stroke patients, and can be initiated several days after the stroke.
A study of Ryugu samples suggests that micrometeorites from icy celestial bodies in the outer Solar System transported nitrogen compounds to near-Earth regions. This discovery could provide clues about the origins of nitrogen on our planet, potentially serving as a building block for life.
Researchers from NICT and partners demonstrated a record-breaking data-rate of 22.9 petabits per second using a single optical fiber, more than double the previous world record. The achievement showcases the potential for ultra-large capacity optical communication networks.
A new study published in the Journal of Vocational Rehabilitation found that Project SEARCH graduates with intellectual and developmental disabilities achieved high job retention rates (>77%) and overall satisfaction. However, challenges persist, including unmet ongoing support needs and limited follow-up services after graduation.
A study conducted by Eurac Research Institute found that cigarette use alters the oral microbiome, leading to an increased risk of periodontitis and cardiovascular disease. Quitting smoking results in a gradual increase in aerobic bacteria, which can lead to improved blood pressure regulation.