Researchers found that empathic disequilibrium, an imbalance between cognitive and emotional empathy, better explains symptoms in various clinical conditions. Prof. Florina Uzefovsky's work suggests this concept can be a powerful diagnostic and treatment tool for autism, schizophrenia, and other disorders.
A new study found that children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) may be less likely to experience severe injuries, especially orthopedic and animal-inflicted injuries. The research highlights the need for tailored injury prevention strategies for each condition, emphasizing distinct injury profiles between ASD and ADHD.
A new study identified unique subpopulations of fat cells with complex predicted functions, and even found differences between human fat tissues in intercellular communication. The discovery provides a basis for further research to advance personalized medicine in obesity.
Researchers at Ben-Gurion University found that chronic stress changes how the brain processes sounds, with higher decibel levels needed to trigger similar responses. This effect may be driven by a type of inhibitory cell becoming more active under repeated stress.
Researchers found two groups of children diagnosed with autism after 6 years of age, presenting with varying symptom profiles. Early diagnosis is crucial for social communication and integration, with 75% of children diagnosed before age 6.
A new study examined the role of social media in coping mechanisms among ex ultra-Orthodox Jews who left their community. The research found that while time spent on social media was not associated with wellbeing, methods of coping through social media were negatively linked to wellbeing.
A new study from Ben-Gurion University found that teachers often label parents as the problem, rather than viewing them as partners in their child's education. Researchers recommend increased professional training to help teachers diagnose and address various parenting styles, increasing professionalism and school legitimacy.
Researchers have successfully transplanted stem cells from resilient individuals into sea anemones, which are closely related to corals, demonstrating the feasibility of this approach. This innovative method could potentially lead to a new way to revive and restore coral populations damaged by climate change.
Most medical large language models offer little better than guesses when it comes to interpreting medical information. ChatGPT-4 achieved the best performance, but its accuracy remained insufficient for some medical code questions. The study highlights the need for broader clinical language in models and caution in their widespread use.
Researchers found that improved blood sugar control significantly impacts brain health, slowing down age-related brain atrophy by up to 50%. The Green Mediterranean Diet, rich in polyphenols, shows promise in supporting metabolic and brain health.
Research found that mothers' ability to mediate threatening situations and regulate their emotions can significantly reduce the link between maternal PTSD symptoms and child PTSD symptoms. Mothers with high self-regulation skills may be better able to separate their stress response from that of their children, providing them with a sen...
Researchers developed a computational method called DISCOVER to break down images into semantically meaningful components that AI uses to make decisions. The technology demonstrates the interpretation of AI decisions for various medical imaging tasks, including IVF embryo analysis and Alzheimer's brain imaging.
A clinical trial found that consuming Mankai after meals can significantly lower blood sugar levels in patients with type 2 diabetes. The study showed a 20% reduction in post-meal blood sugar levels and faster return to baseline levels in about two-thirds of participants.
Researchers at Ben-Gurion University have created a proof-of-concept for a unique aquaponics system that grows fish and vegetables together, producing more produce while using less energy than traditional systems. The closed-loop system recycles fish waste through anaerobic digestion, reducing waste production and carbon emissions.
Researchers have used cryo-electron microscopy to reveal the structural basis of how cells regulate ferritin, a protein that stores iron. This understanding could lead to the development of drugs that block ferritin's interaction with NCOA4, slowing down aggressive cancer cells.
Researchers at Ben-Gurion University of the Negev have developed a new compound, PL-18, which disrupts bacterial quorum sensing and biofilm formation. This compound has shown promise in reducing bacterial virulence and inhibiting iron uptake, suggesting potential applications in combating antibiotic-resistant bacteria.
Researchers found that socially assistive robots improved stroke rehabilitation outcomes by encouraging people to continue their treatment in a non-judgmental setting. Participants who used the robots showed significant improvements in kinematic and clinical measures, including smoothness of movement and upper-extremity assessments.
Drylands cover 42% of the earth's land surface but receive inadequate protection, with only a small fraction slated for conservation. The study highlights the urgent need to protect dryland species and ecosystems due to human actions, which may lead to severe biodiversity loss.
Researchers at Ben-Gurion University's PAI Lab developed groundbreaking multifunctional material-sensors that emulate natural systems, advancing Physical AI. The sensors can process diverse signals concurrently through ions and electrons, enabling versatile and lifelike interactions in fields like robotics and healthcare.
A recent study found that invasive brown widow spiders are highly infected with Rhabdochlamydia, a bacterium related to major human and animal pathogens. The bacteria were also transmitted from mother spiders to their offspring.
A new study by Ben-Gurion University researchers found that people tend to underutilize their visual working memory, retaining only one item in most cases. This discovery sheds light on how VWM is used in real-life situations and may affect performance in tasks.
Prof. Tomer Hertz's research will measure immune responses to polioviruses using a novel antigen array, facilitating rapid analysis in countries where polio has yet to be eradicated. The funding aims to optimize PAM – a polio antigen microarray – for safe and effective measurement of protection from polio infection.
Researchers at Ben-Gurion University of the Negev and international colleagues found that augmenting MIF protein levels delays motor function decline, modulates critical pathways, and extends lifespan in a SOD1 mouse model of ALS. Diminished MIF levels are also observed in familial and sporadic ALS cases.
Researchers from Ben-Gurion University of the Negev have discovered a link between proteomic biomarkers and liver fat percentage, which may improve patient monitoring and therapy targeting for NAFLD. The study, conducted over 18 months, found that specific protein changes were independently associated with liver fat relative change.
Researchers at Ben-Gurion University have discovered a molecular mechanism that enables cancer cells to survive under glucose starvation. By targeting this pathway, they aim to develop a molecule that can block the survival of tumor cells while leaving healthy cells unaffected.
Researchers developed a nanosized polymer that selectively delivers chemotherapeutic drugs to blood vessels supporting tumor growth. The treatment eliminates colorectal cancer liver metastases and prolongs mice survival after a single dose-therapy.
Researchers from Ben-Gurion University of the Negev identified six barriers to consistent home physiotherapy exercises in vestibular rehabilitation, including motivation, increased symptoms, and psychosocial factors. The study offers actionable recommendations for clinicians to overcome these barriers and improve treatment outcomes.
A new study reveals that humans are losing important cellulose-degrading microbes in their gut microbiome, especially in industrial societies. The loss of these microbes is linked to a shift away from fiber-rich diets, which are essential for maintaining a balanced intestinal flora.
Ben-Gurion University scientists propose a unified theory that explains sand ripples on Mars and Earth, suggesting common causes despite different planetary environments. The research was conducted using wind tunnel experiments and reveals the possibility of similar patterns on Earth.
A new study published in the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine found that childhood tonsillectomy is not associated with an increased risk of obesity in adulthood. The research followed 132 children who underwent tonsillectomy for obstructive sleep apnea and found no link to weight gain in adulthood.
A new study using JWST data shows that small galaxies played a major role in cosmic reionization, outnumbering massive galaxies by a factor of 100. These findings contradict current theories and suggest that low-mass galaxies were responsible for the ionizing photons required for reionization.
A team of astronomers has detected a gravitationally lensed supermassive black hole in the early universe, which was found to be significantly more massive than its host galaxy. The discovery, made using images from the James Webb Space Telescope, revealed the black hole's unique red color and confirmed it as a supermassive black hole.
A long-term study in Eilat found that artificial reefs reduce diving pressure on natural reefs, allowing for the preservation of both dive tourism and coral reefs. The reef has attracted many species of fish and invertebrates, making it a successful alternative to natural reefs.
Researchers have identified a link between CCHS and the ubiquitin transfer system, revealing that aberrant interaction with this system disrupts normal neural protein degradation, leading to cell death. This discovery could pave the way for significant advances in disease therapeutics.
The study found a 4-fold increase in ASD diagnoses among 2-3 year-old children and a 2-fold increase in older ages. The research highlights the need for education and healthcare services to keep up with the growing demand, and emphasizes the importance of early intervention to improve communication and social skills.
Researchers found a significant connection between anxiety disorders and the brain receptor TACR3, as well as low testosterone levels. Testing showed that inhibiting TACR3 resulted in increased receptors on the cell surface, blocking long-term synaptic strengthening.
Researchers found that captive-bred Egyptian vultures improved their flight skills faster than those raised in the wild. The study suggests that early life experiences have a lasting impact on animals' ability to cope with challenging periods like migration.
A new study by Prof. Ehud Meron and colleagues proposes that pairing spatial patterning and phenotypic changes is the missing link to understanding fairy circles. The researchers found that combining plant-level phenotypic changes with population-level spatial patterning can result in resilient ecosystem responses to water stress.
A new study by Ben-Gurion University researchers measures effort in football teams, finding that peer effort positively affects individual effort. Teammates' social connections also contribute to positive effects. The findings suggest that managers should consider workers' compensation based on effort, not just performance.
Researchers at Ben-Gurion University have detected the elusive ethyl radical intermediate in the ethane pyrolysis reaction, a key driver of chemical reactions in the plastics and natural gas industries. This discovery could lead to more efficient production of plastics and other chemicals with reduced byproducts and pollution.
A recent study by Dr. Monica Mowery at Ben-Gurion University of the Negev found that urban habitats provide a safe haven for invasive brown widow spiders, protecting them from parasitism and predation. This allows the species to thrive in high densities, contrary to what is observed in natural desert habitats.
Researchers at Ben-Gurion University developed an AI system to identify social norm violations using GPT-3 and zero-shot text classification. The system characterized ten social emotions, including competence, politeness, and trust, with empirical success on massive datasets.
A new computer science tool is applied to examine Judeo-Christian relations in literature from the early first centuries CE, yielding wondrous results. The study reveals that Jewish sources are familiar with early Christian sources, but show wider geographical familiarity with both eastern and western Christian sources in later periods.
Researchers discover that 3,3′-Diindolylmethane (DIM) reduces Streptococcus mutans biofilm by 90%, a main cause of plaque and cavities. The molecule also has anti-carcinogenic properties.
Researchers from Ben-Gurion University of the Negev have developed a new approach to understanding photovoltaic device performance under varying temperatures. Their findings suggest that thermoradiative and thermophotonic cells can efficiently convert sunlight into electricity even at high temperatures.
Researchers found that a reduction in body weight of 1% led to participants' brain age being almost 9 months younger than expected. This attenuation of brain aging was associated with changes in liver fat and enzymes, which can negatively affect brain health in Alzheimer's disease.
Researchers developed a bio-sensing technology that measures PD1 ligand functionality to predict patient response to anti-PD1 therapy. This technology enables accurate prediction of patient response and tailoring treatments accordingly, improving cancer patients' lives.
Ben-Gurion University researchers have discovered a new principle in optics using the Pacific Cleaner Shrimp, leading to the creation of an ultra-thin and highly efficient whitening material. The study found that the shrimp's unique arrangement of molecules creates birefringent nanospheres with brilliant whiteness.
The green Mediterranean diet significantly regressed proximal aortic stiffness by 15% compared to the healthy Mediterranean diet's 7.3% and control diet's 4.8%. A large-scale clinical trial of 300 participants over 18 months showed the diet's powerful effect on vascular aging physiology.
Researchers have proposed a set of 10 simple rules for socially responsible science, aiming to minimize harm to individuals and social groups. The rules emphasize the importance of diverse perspectives, transparent reporting, and rigorous review processes.