Researchers at USC have developed a new process to upcycle composite materials from automobile panels and light rail vehicles, recovering high-value materials from both carbon fibers and polymers. The study preserves the integrity of the materials and produces valuable products.
Researchers at USC Dornsife discover that mifepristone increases mitophagy to the same extent as rapamycin, potentially extending lifespan. The study found that combining the two drugs does not offer additional benefits and slightly reduces lifespan, suggesting they act through the same biological pathway.
Researchers have long believed that rock friction follows a simple relationship with temperature, but a new study published in PNAS suggests otherwise. The study reveals that different underlying mechanisms affect the frictional resistance of faults, which could improve earthquake hazard assessments and forecasts.
Researchers develop smartphone-adaptable tool to measure impact of nicotine-infused e-cigarettes on cardiovascular health. The study reveals vaping with nicotine accelerates vascular aging and impairs left ventricle function.
Researchers tested 24 MLLMs on Raven's Progressive Matrices, finding that open-source models struggled significantly. However, closed-source models like GPT-4V performed relatively well, suggesting a need for more advanced resources and training data to improve AI's cognitive abilities.
As of 2019, over 1.4 million US children have lost a family member to a drug overdose, according to a USC Dornsife study. The trend shows younger children are increasingly affected, with 5-year-olds experiencing loss at the same rate as 10-year-olds 15 years ago.
A new study proposes a theoretically new mechanism to modulate spinal reflexes at the same spinal cord level as stretch reflexes during voluntary movements. The research, led by Biomedical engineering doctoral student Grace Niyo, suggests that a simple spinal circuit can correct self-perturbations from stretch reflexes to produce smoot...
A new study finds that rural men can expect to live two years less than their urban counterparts by age 60, and spend fewer years in good health. The urban-rural gap in life expectancy and health quality has nearly tripled over two decades due to higher rates of smoking, obesity, and cardiovascular conditions.
A study of mostly climate science believers found that even the strongest believers felt skeptical claims were more true when encountered a second time. This effect, known as 'truthiness,' can lead people to perceive false claims as valid if repeated enough times.
A new study found that soil erosion significantly contributed to devastating desert floods in Libya, claiming over 11,300 lives. The research highlights the urgent need for advanced earth observations programs to monitor arid areas due to climate change.
A new AI algorithm, DPAD, developed by Maryam Shanechi's lab, can dissociate brain patterns related to specific behaviors, improving brain-computer interfaces for paralyzed patients. The algorithm can also discover new patterns in the brain that may be missed by prior methods.
A new study reveals a significant correlation between entorhinal cortex thickness and financial exploitation vulnerability, a potential early indicator of Alzheimer's disease. The research suggests that assessing financial awareness could help identify cognitive changes in older adults.
A new US study found that most people who challenged problematic medical bills received financial relief, including 74% of those who reported a billing error and 76% of those who sought financial assistance. However, those who may struggle most with medical debt, such as those without college degrees or lower financial literacy, were l...
A recent USC study reveals that interprofessional training in health sciences education has a lasting impact on practice. Nearly all graduates (81%) reported working in interprofessional teams one to three years after completing the program.
A new study found a strong correlation between pesticide use and fewer wild bee sightings, suggesting a direct link between pesticide exposure and bee population declines. Alternative pest control strategies, such as integrated pest management, are essential for conserving these crucial pollinators.
Researchers at USC developed an approach that matches polysomnography using a single-lead echocardiogram, allowing anyone to create their own low-cost, DIY sleep-tracking device. The software significantly outperformed other EEG-less models and assesses sleep stages at the highest level.
Researchers at USC Dornsife introduce a new method to measure mercury released from permafrost, estimating the total amount awaiting release. The study finds that sediment samples provide a reliable measure of mercury content and offer deeper insight into the permafrost's hidden dangers.
A USC study found that terms like climate change and global warming are more familiar to people than alternative terms, generating more concern about Earth's warming. The study also revealed that perceptions of climate-related issues vary by political affiliation.
A new USC study led by Caleb Finch shows how feeding mice the drug GSM-15606 provided protection against air pollution-related increases in proteins linked to Alzheimer's disease. The results indicate that GSM-15606 may one day have a role as a preventive measure against Alzheimer's in people living with air pollution.
A new AI model, Deep Predictor of Binding Specificity (DeepPBS), can accurately predict protein-DNA binding across different types of proteins. This tool allows for the prediction of binding specificity from protein-DNA complex structures, reducing the need for high-throughput sequencing or structural biology experiments.
A USC study found that prescription fills for semaglutide increased by over 400% between 2021 and 2023, with most prescriptions going to privately insured patients. The study suggests that this may worsen disparities in diabetes and obesity outcomes among Medicaid and Medicare recipients.
Research found mothers carry a 73% share of cognitive household labor compared to partners' 27%, contributing to mental health issues. The study highlights the invisible dimension of household labor that affects women's well-being and relationship quality.
Researchers propose a unified fluid model linking carpet and flame cilia designs, providing a framework for understanding fluid pumping in living organisms. The study's findings have significant implications for the management of pathologies associated with cilia malfunction, such as bronchiectasis and hydrocephalus.
A new study reveals that data on popular community science platforms is biased towards easily identifiable and attractive species. Researchers found that iNaturalist's reliance on photos creates a personal bias, underreporting certain species and overreporting others.
Researchers have developed a technique to edit B cells to produce custom antibodies, opening up new possibilities for treating chronic conditions. The technology uses CRISPR gene editing to reprogram B cells as biofactories making custom antibodies.
Researchers at USC developed a new method to accurately predict wildfire spread using satellite data and artificial intelligence. The model offers a potential breakthrough in wildfire management and emergency response, providing more precise and timely data for firefighters and evacuation teams battling wildfires.
A USC Dornsife study finds that nearly one in four LA County residents experience food insecurity, while almost half with nutrition insecurity do not report food insecurity, highlighting the need for addressing both issues to improve access and address barriers to healthy diets.
A recent study found that most survey respondents preferred receiving hospital-level care at home due to its convenience, comfort, and effectiveness. The study also revealed that patients felt safe being treated at home and were willing to manage their medications and provide in-depth care.
A study published in PLOS ONE found that nearly 70% of participants rated ChatGPT-generated jokes as funnier than those created by people. The researchers also tested the AI against professional humor writers, with results showing that ChatGPT's headlines were just as funny as those from The Onion.
A new USC study found that states with the most restrictive abortion policies experienced significant declines in the use of birth control pills and emergency contraceptives. The analysis suggests that the Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization case has had wider ramifications for women's reproductive health than previously thought.
Researchers discovered extreme differences in mitochondrial gene activity between males and females, highlighting the need for sex-specific disease therapies. The study, published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, found that male mitochondria exhibit more protein-coding genes than females.
Researchers at USC Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences found that brains display unique neural activity when experiencing bittersweetness, a common yet understudied phenomenon. They discovered that mixed emotions hold steady over time, unlike ping-ponging between negative and positive feelings.
A new USC study provides unambiguous evidence that the Earth's inner core began to decrease its speed around 2010, moving slower than the Earth's surface. This change is caused by the churning of the liquid iron outer core, which generates the planet's magnetic field.
Researchers from USC Viterbi School of Engineering have developed ingestible sensors that track gastrointestinal health in real-time. These 'smart pills' use AI and wearable technology to detect gases associated with gastritis and gastric cancers, offering a significant step forward in ingestible technology.
Researchers found a slight increase in utilization of oral oncology drugs but no significant change in expenditures. The study also showed that integration did not improve medication adherence or reduce out-of-pocket costs for patients. Despite this, the shift towards oral cancer therapies may lead to changes in physician revenue.
Researchers found a 46% increase in shingles vaccinations covered by Medicare Part D after the IRA policy removed patient out-of-pocket costs. This increase contrasts with a 21% drop in private insurance coverage, highlighting the impact of cost elimination on vaccine uptake.
A USC study finds that rising sea levels and urban development are accelerating coastal erosion in Southern California, with predicted costs tripling by 2050. Beach nourishment projects will become increasingly costly due to the global increase in sand prices.
A new study found that daily temperature variation has a disproportionate impact on marginalized groups, particularly Black and brown communities, with greater swings in temperature on average. The researchers used satellite data to analyze temperature patterns across the US, finding that densely populated regions with limited green sp...
A team of researchers at USC has developed an 'Airborne Sounding Radar for Desert Subsurface Exploration of Aquifers,' nicknamed 'Desert-SEA.' This technique uses low-frequency radar to map the top of shallow aquifers, allowing scientists to assess their sustainability without limitations associated with in-situ mapping. The technology...
USC researchers have developed machine learning models to identify coordinated inauthentic behaviors on X, involving tactics like co-retweeting and text similarity. The fused network approach leverages topological properties of the network to classify accounts and predict their future participation in influence campaigns.
Molecular biologist John Tower proposes a new 'rule of biology,' selectively advantageous instability (SAI), which suggests that some volatility in biological components provides an advantage to cells. SAI plays a key role in evolution, allowing for genetic diversity and adaptability, and may also contribute to aging.
White and Hispanic people are most likely to be diagnosed with behavioral symptoms of dementia, but also receive potentially harmful drugs. The study found substantial racial disparities in dementia diagnosis and treatment, with non-white patients being underdiagnosed for treatable symptoms.
Hangbo Zhao's new research enables the development of soft, flexible microneedle electrodes that can sense into tissues and gain accurate results. The technology is enabled by a novel manufacturing process that combines laser micromachining, microfabrication, and transfer printing.
A recent study found that individuals with a rare condition known as growth hormone receptor deficiency (GHRD) have normal or improved levels of cardiovascular disease risk factors compared to their relatives. This suggests that GHRD may actually protect against cardiovascular disease, contrary to previous speculation.
Physicians in states with mandatory reporting laws are 50% more likely to underdiagnose dementia, according to a new USC Dornsife study. This may worsen health outcomes and increase healthcare costs due to patients withholding symptoms out of fear of losing their driving privileges.
A new USC-led study on rats that fed a high-fat, sugary diet during adolescence found impaired memory and disrupted acetylcholine levels. The researchers suggest that a junk food-filled diet in teens may disrupt their brains' memory ability for a long time.
A new study published in PNAS found that AI-generated messages made recipients feel more 'heard' than messages generated by untrained humans, and that AI was better at detecting emotions. However, recipients reported feeling less heard when they learned a message came from AI.
Researchers developed a new model to predict future risk of pressure injuries, increasing accuracy by over 20%. The predictive algorithm offers improved economic efficiency and substantial savings, especially for underrepresented minorities.
A recent USC Schaeffer Center study found that fewer than one-in-ten hospitals promote interest-bearing medical payment products, with those promoting them being disproportionately non-profit hospitals. The study suggests regulators take a closer look at hospital financial conditions before enacting regulations.
Researchers discovered a genetic mutation in humanin, a mitochondrial microprotein, that may help individuals with the APOE4 allele live longer and preserve cognitive function. The variant was found to reduce amyloid-beta buildup in the brains of mice engineered to express human APOE4.