A USC study found that notifying clinicians about fatal opioid overdoses through letters from medical examiners reduces opioid prescribing over the next three months. The study shows these notifications have a lasting impact, with a 7% reduction in prescriptions after one year.
Researchers at Rice University and St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital discovered the structural basis of DNA polymerase theta-mediated microhomology-mediated end joining, a process complementary to homologous recombination and non-homologous end joining. This mechanism could be a promising target for precision cancer therapy.
Scientists detected compounds in 250 million-year-old pollen grains that function like sunscreen, suggesting UV-B radiation played a key role in the end-Permian mass extinction event. The discovery supports the theory of palaeoclimate emergency triggered by volcanic eruptions and global warming.
A global study reveals that around 50% of soil-available phosphorus worldwide comes from mineral fertilizers, with significant regional disparities. The findings highlight the need for sustainable agricultural practices to reduce dependence on non-renewable resources.
A study of 5.1 million commercially insured adults found a rapid increase in telehealth services for mental health conditions during the pandemic. The COVID-19 pandemic led to higher service utilization rates for several mental health conditions compared to pre-pandemic levels.
The employment-to-population ratio for people with disabilities increased from 36.5% in November to 37.0% in December, up 1.4%, while it remained unchanged at 74.4% for those without disabilities. This surge continues the gains of the last four months and highlights the ongoing strength of people with disabilities in the job market.
Researchers identified key metabolic pathways in tumor-associated macrophages that contribute to cancer development and progression. Targeting these pathways may provide a new perspective for immunotherapy-based cancer treatments.
A new study published in BMJ Open found no significant difference between older and newer knee replacement implants six months after surgery. This is a breakthrough for patients, as it suggests that older designs with proven track records can provide similar patient-reported outcomes to more modern designs.
A new study found that nearly a third of patients with chronic pain use cannabis to manage their symptoms, leading to decreased use of pain medications. The study suggests that further research is needed to understand the benefits and risks of using cannabis for chronic pain management.
A major new analysis of former British special advisers' career paths shows that most transition to corporate lobbying and policy advocacy roles. However, few register with official lobbying registers, and public service careers have declined significantly over the past three decades.
A recent study published in Nature Sustainability reveals that Indigenous territories and protected areas play a vital role in forest conservation in the Brazilian Amazon. The study found that these areas accounted for approximately 52% of forests in the region, leading to only 5% of net forest loss and 12% of gross forest loss.
A new study by Argonne National Laboratory has developed a redox-active interlayer that enhances the performance of lithium-sulfur batteries. The technology suppresses polysulfide shuttling, improves capacity and increases cycle life. Researchers are now focused on scaling up the design to achieve commercial viability.
A quality improvement program implemented to reduce disparities in blood pressure control between Black and white patients resulted in improved outcomes. However, disparities were not eliminated, suggesting a need for further targeted interventions.
A survey of US neonatal nurse practitioner education programs found that underrepresented groups make up less than 20% of faculty and students. Despite disparities in NICU admissions, there is no significant difference in racial/ethnic composition between NNP faculty and students.
A randomized controlled trial found that community gardening increases fiber intake by 7% and physical activity levels, leading to lower stress and anxiety. The study also confirms the benefits of novice gardeners and highlights the social connections formed through community gardening.
The three-year effort aims to establish a widely accepted protocol for comparing lidar performance. The first year's tests evaluated range, accuracy, and precision of eight automotive-grade lidars using a survey-grade reference. Results showed the distribution of measured values was not Gaussian, with significant errors in some cases.
Researchers developed a new method using Bayesian estimation to reduce X-ray fluorescence analysis time from 7 seconds to 3 seconds per measurement point, saving up to 11 hours for large-scale elemental distributions.
An international research team investigated a surprising coral bleaching episode in Moorea, finding that anti-cyclonic eddies elevated sea levels and concentrated hot water, leading to an underwater marine heatwave. Long-term data revealed the importance of considering environmental dynamics across ocean depths to predict coral bleaching.
Researchers at Rice University have developed a multiplex base-editing platform that significantly improves the pace of new drug discovery by inducing fungi to produce more bioactive compounds. The technique has been deployed as a tool for mining fungal genomes for medically useful compounds, reducing research timeline by over 80%.
A new USC study found that the buildup of amyloid beta protein in the brain is not directly linked to Alzheimer's disease, but rather a general change associated with aging. Researchers discovered higher levels of soluble Aβ protein in healthy brains, while insoluble fibrillary amyloid was more closely tied to poor brain health.
A recent study has revealed a novel cold domesticated repair mechanism for DNA damage in rice, providing elite modules for improving chilling tolerance. The discovery of GCG codon repeats in the first exon of COLD11, a DNA repair protein, has opened the way for fine regulation of rice chilling tolerance with a single site.
Researchers at Indiana University found that the average age of human conception is around 26.9 years, with fathers averaging 30.7 years and mothers averaging 23.2 years over the past 250,000 years. The study also suggests that the age gap between fathers and mothers has narrowed in recent times.
A study involving three volunteers found that skin scars treated with hair follicle transplants exhibited profound architectural and genetic shifts towards healthy, uninjured skin. The findings suggest the potential for new therapies to rejuvenate mature scars and restore organ function.
A UVA research team developed a real-time detection method for keyhole pore generation in laser powder bed fusion, achieving a 100% prediction rate. This approach expands additive manufacturing capabilities for aerospace and other industries relying on strong metal parts.
Scientists at Hefei Institutes of Physical Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, have discovered a new plasma operation scenario called Super I Mode on EAST, which demonstrates high-confinement and self-organizing mechanism. The new mode offers insights into how to maintain plasma operations stably and for long duration.
Researchers found that cells exchanging amino acids and glycerol with each other lived up to 25% longer. The study suggests this collaborative exchange extends the lifespan of cells within a community as a whole.
Researchers at Cima Universidad de Navarra identified LAMC2 as a key gene in pancreatic cancer development. Inhibiting this gene, combined with existing drugs, increases antitumor effect in 3D models.
A new study found that glaciers are losing mass at a rate higher than previously estimated, with small glaciers being the most impacted. By 2100, 49% of the world's glaciers could disappear due to global warming, leading to a 9-cm sea level rise under 1.5°C conditions.
A study investigates the relationship between microstructure evolution and property degradation of two tungsten composites after electron beam thermal loading. The results show that full recrystallization and grain growth occur in one composite, leading to decreased ultimate tensile strength and total elongation.
Researchers at Rice University have developed a photochemical process that simplifies the manufacture of essential precursors for drugs and agricultural chemicals. By illuminating reagents with visible light, they can form diazides in conditions far gentler than current industrial processes.
Collagen deposition at injured sites in the gut stimulates cellular reprogramming, converting mature cells into fetal-like cells to generate new tissue. This process has implications for understanding intestinal inflammation and potentially colorectal carcinogenesis.
Researchers at UT Health San Antonio identified a new inflammatory trigger in Alzheimer's disease and progressive supranuclear palsy, involving 'jumping genes' that form double-stranded RNA mimicking viral infections. This discovery opens new doors for understanding astrocyte biology and their role in transposable element control.
UC San Diego researchers analyzed plankton samples from the Continuous Plankton Recorder Survey to reconstruct historical marine pollution trends. They found rising levels of manmade chemicals in oceans, which may be used to monitor ecosystem health and study connections between ocean pollution and human chronic illnesses.
Researchers at the University of Cincinnati found a link between latent tuberculosis infection and increased inflammation in monocytes, a type of white blood cell. This connection may contribute to a higher risk of cardiovascular disease in individuals with LTBI.
Fossil pollen contains compounds that function like sunscreen, protecting plants from UV-B radiation. The discovery supports the theory of a collapse of the Earth's ozone layer contributing to the end-Permian mass extinction event.
A literature review reveals speech patterns can accurately diagnose psychiatric disorders, measure severity and predict onset. Automated analysis outperforms subjective measures like interviews or questionnaires.
Researchers at Beihang University discovered ultrathin vanadium oxychloride's optical anisotropic properties, which will facilitate the design of novel functional devices. The material's unique characteristics make it suitable for emerging nanotechnology applications such as spintronics and optospintronics.
Researchers uncover ancient manufacturing strategy that incorporates self-healing functionalities into Roman concrete. Hot mixing process allows for faster construction and enhanced durability through spontaneous cracking and recrystallization.
Researchers developed a high-performance cathode material for lithium rich manganese based lithium ion batteries with excellent cycling performance. The material combines sulfur doping, in-situ growth of coherent spinel phase, and oxygen vacancy optimization strategies to avoid microcracks and improve battery life.
Researchers have developed an innovative amputated human limb model to evaluate molecularly targeted fluorescent probes for human tissues. The model allows for controlled testing of imaging agents with zero risk to patients, improving the accuracy and safety of surgical procedures.
The NSF Convergence Accelerator program invests $11M in solutions for vulnerable communities, with UMBC's Lauren Clay awarded $624K to develop the Food Index for Resilience. This index will measure food system functioning in communities and support disaster response and recovery.
Researchers at Washington University in St. Louis demonstrated that eukaryotic cells can control organelle size by exhibiting random bursts of growth, maintaining a narrow window of precision within this noise., The study suggests a biophysical mechanism for the robustness and universality of organelle size control.
Researchers found that vitamin D strengthens immune cells' ability to fight tuberculosis by producing cathelicidin toxin. Vitamin D treatment can prevent and treat the disease, particularly in populations exposed to high risk of infection. However, supplements do not protect against infection with tuberculosis.
Researchers used machine learning to analyze parole data from New York and found that the New York State Parole Board could safely grant parole to more inmates, potentially doubling the release rate. The study suggests eliminating racial disparities in release rates while maintaining public safety.
Researchers at Texas A&M University are testing Raman spectroscopy as a diagnostic tool for Lyme disease, which shows promise in accurately identifying infected individuals. The new test could improve Lyme disease diagnosis and treatment outcomes for both humans and animals.
Researchers at the University of Colorado School of Medicine have discovered a new mechanism for slowing scarring of heart tissue, a process known as cardiac fibrosis. The study's findings suggest that inhibiting the degradation of eicosanoids may be a promising approach to preventing or reversing cardiac fibrosis.
Researchers have reviewed opportunities and challenges in harvesting electricity from ambient water sources. Despite the vast potential of these decentralized energy generation methods, many remain at the lab-bench stage due to issues with durability, scalability and low energy conversion rates.
PSMA PET/MRI successfully determines prostate cancer likelihood of return within two years after prostatectomy, aiding treatment decisions. High uptake in primary lesion and metastasis are associated with rapid recurrence.
Researchers at Washington University in St. Louis found that nanoplastics from polystyrene can produce reactive oxygen species when exposed to light, which can harm wildlife and the aquatic ecosystem. The study suggests that smaller particle sizes of nanoplastics may be more reactive and decompose faster under light.
A new AI model developed at USC accurately captures cognitive decline linked to neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer's much earlier than previous methods. The model analyzes MRI brain scans and detects subtle brain anatomy markers that correlate with cognitive decline, offering an unprecedented glimpse into human cognition.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, telehealth services for common mental health problems increased 16-20 fold, surpassing the decline in in-person care for certain conditions. By December 2020, treatment levels were higher for some disorders compared to a year earlier.
A recent analysis found a dramatic decline in stroke mortality between 1975 and 2019, but the trend is reversing due to an aging population. Despite this, researchers warn that total stroke fatalities will rise as millennials age, highlighting the need for novel strategies to combat the trend.
A team of Japanese researchers discovered that adding neon to a hydrogen ice pellet can cool the plasma more effectively, reducing pressure and preventing ejection. This breakthrough contributes to establishing plasma control technologies for future fusion reactors.
Researchers from prominent institutions discuss hepatocellular carcinoma's pathogenesis, genomic heterogeneity, and targeted therapy options. The review aims to characterize HCC's complexities and develop clinically relevant biomarkers for better management.
A survey study found that 3 in 10 adults with chronic pain in states with medical cannabis laws used cannabis to manage their pain, often substituting it for other pain medications. The study highlights the importance of researching the effectiveness and potential adverse consequences of cannabis for chronic pain management.