A recent study suggests that researchers may be overlooking intricate social relationships among chimpanzees and macaques. The study found that existing dominance-based methods are too simplistic to capture the complex dynamics of these primates' social interactions.
A new study confirms that three viable explanations exist for detection dogs collecting non-target scat, including natural behaviors of non-target species altering the genetic profile of target scat. This finding has important implications for conservation projects using scat-detection dogs to track animal populations.
A team of researchers successfully recorded environmental data using a wireless photonic sensor resonator with a whispering-gallery-mode architecture, mapping temperature distribution on a drone and recording real-time air temperature data. The findings demonstrate the potential applications of miniature sensors in IoT.
A novel technique developed by Hong Chen uses focused ultrasound to target drug delivery to the brainstem, bypassing the blood-brain barrier. This approach has shown promise in treating diffuse intrinsic pontine gliomas (DIPG), a childhood brain cancer with a five-year survival rate of less than three percent.
Organic matter sulfurization can occur on the timescale of just hours to days, according to new research published in Nature Communications. This process may have sizable implications for understanding the past and future of the Earth's climate.
Researchers at Washington University in St. Louis create 'blink' method to image amyloids, allowing for non-invasive visualization of these problematic proteins. The technique uses temporary fluorescence, causing amyloids to flash and enabling researchers to better understand their structure and behavior.
Research reveals that ancient herders' livestock dung created fertile environmental niches for diverse wildlife over three millennia. Fertile sites attracted wildebeest, zebras, gazelles and carnivores, influencing migration patterns.
Scientists at Washington University in St. Louis have created an algorithm to reveal connections between cells over time, potentially impacting circadian rhythms. The approach, called ICON, shows the strength of these connections, which could lead to a better understanding of brain disorders such as epilepsy and Alzheimer's disease.
A study by Washington University researchers found that community outreach and educational support led to a higher enrollment rate in ACA plans among Missourians in 2018. The initiative also developed an online decision support tool, Show Me Health Plans, which reported higher health insurance knowledge and confidence among users.
Researchers at Washington University in St. Louis engineer bacteria to produce biosynthetic spider silk with improved tensile strength and toughness, exceeding previous records. The new silk's molecular weight positively correlates with its strength, suggesting potential for further increases.
A multicenter study funded by the National Institutes of Health found that inducing labor in healthy first-time mothers at 39 weeks reduced cesarean sections compared to waiting for labor naturally. Infants born to induced mothers did not experience more stillbirths or newborn deaths.
A new study by Washington University in St. Louis reveals that the Earth shifted its volatile transport regime around 2.5 billion years ago, with a significant increase in regassing potentially enabled by subduction. This change had a profound impact on the internal churning of the mantle and plate motions at the surface.
A 19-year review of nearly 582,000 heart attack cases reveals that female patients have a significantly higher survival rate when treated by women doctors. The study's findings also suggest that male doctors with more female colleagues in the ER can improve survival rates for female patients.
Researchers found that locusts use an OR-of-ANDs logical operation to compensate for variability in brain activity when recognizing smells. This allows the locusts to generalize and recognize the target odorant despite changes in context.
Researchers investigate how a group of cells breaks off from a colony, leading to large-scale metastasis. Mechanical engineer Amit Pathak aims to understand the mechanisms behind disease pathways and fundamental cell behavior.
Researchers have discovered that using information to extract work on a quantum scale is possible, but it comes with a catch: some information may be lost in the process. Quantum backaction allows researchers to measure particles without fully collapsing their superposition states, resulting in negative information.
A team of international researchers has developed a lasing system that produces phonons, the energy products of oscillation, or vibration. By tuning the system to create resonance, they can trigger mechanical movement that generates an acoustic wave. This breakthrough could lead to new medical and materials science applications.
Researchers found that survivors had larger toe pads on forelimbs and hindlimbs compared to pre-storm populations. Survivors also had proportionately longer fore legs and shorter back legs with smaller bodies. These findings suggest natural selection favors certain characteristics in response to extreme weather events.
Researchers propose 'Event Memory Retrieval and Comparison Theory' that explains how people update memory representations to facilitate processing of changes in everyday actions. The study found older adults had difficulty tracking changes, which accounted for their lower memory performance.
New research from Washington University in St. Louis found that warming conditions can alter the way wolf spiders interact with their prey, including springtails and fungi, leading to changes in ecosystem processes like decomposition. This shift could potentially alleviate some impacts of global warming on carbon losses from the tundra.
Scientists have engineered a bacterium that can fix nitrogen from the air, paving the way for nitrogen-fixing plants that could reduce fertilizer usage and increase crop yields. The breakthrough could benefit billions of people worldwide, particularly subsistence farmers.
Scientists at Washington University discovered that activating only 10% of VIP neurons can rapidly shift a mouse's daily schedule. The study suggests that VIP neurons produce vasoactive intestinal polypeptide, an essential compound for synchronizing daily rhythms.
A new patch developed at Washington University in St. Louis increases fluorescence intensity by 100 times, making it easier to visualize and diagnose low-abundance analytes. The plasmonic patch is a cheap fix that can be applied to existing diagnostic tests without requiring any protocol changes.
Researchers at Washington University School of Medicine have developed a gene therapy method to target damaged kidney cells, which could lead to improved treatment for chronic kidney disease. The approach uses adeno-associated virus (AAV) to deliver genetic material to targeted cells, showing promise in slowing or reversing cell damage.
A new study finds that air pollution contributes significantly to diabetes worldwide, with even low levels posing a health risk. The researchers estimated that pollution contributed to 3.2 million new diabetes cases globally in 2016, representing about 14% of all new cases.
A new imaging technique using bioinspired camera technology will measure changes in the UCL during loading, providing insight into damage accumulation. The technique aims to improve microstructural evaluation of soft tissues and study biological damage in rotator cuff tendons.
Researchers at Washington University in St. Louis developed mathematical tools that determine when randomness emerges in stochastic systems, describing the kinetics before dissolving into randomness. The tools have potential to predict onset of chaos in nanoparticles to checking accounts.
A recent study has identified monocytes as key instigators of early lung transplant failure, leading to organ rejection and death. The researchers hope their findings will lead to new therapies targeting inflammatory cells.
Researchers have developed a groundbreaking technique to detect tumor biomarkers in brain tumors through a simple blood test, potentially eliminating the need for surgical biopsies. The method uses focused ultrasound and tiny bubbles to release tumor-specific biomarkers into the bloodstream.
Researchers discovered that baricitinib prevented graft-versus-host disease and even reversed established cases in mouse studies. The drug boosts immune cells to fight cancer while keeping donor T cells from attacking vital organs.
Research tracked changes in Arctic arthropod populations in response to warming temperatures, finding more plant-eating and parasitic insects, and fewer detritivores. The study suggests that water availability will play a key role in determining which bug species can thrive in a warming Arctic.
A new automated text messaging service aims to curb opioid abuse by providing patients with regular check-ins and a panic button for immediate help. The study found that the service reduced substance use among patients, dropping from 43% to 10%, and saved caregivers $19 per patient annually.
Researchers at Washington University in St. Louis have developed a new process to generate NP-like cells from human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs). The team mimicked the embryonic development process to produce nucleus pulposus cells, which could potentially be used to treat degenerative disc disease.
A team of engineers at Washington University in St. Louis studied the formation of new bone and teeth, discovering that miniscule gaps in collagen's fiber structure facilitate the nucleation of calcium phosphate. The findings provide a new view into the current theory of calcium phosphate nucleation in confined spaces.
Scientists at Washington University in St. Louis have developed a new method to convert CO2 into a solid inert mineral in basalt, which holds promise as an effective abatement agent for reducing greenhouse gas emissions. The research revealed that 47 kilograms of CO2 can be converted into mineral inside one cubic meter of basalt.
A new study suggests that Silk Road cities had limited and monotonous diets, while nomadic communities enjoyed a diverse smorgasbord of foods. Researchers used isotopic analysis of human bones to unlock information about ancient dietary regimens.
A new study suggests that individuals in modern democracies, including the US and Germany, show little interest in erasing wealth disparities. Only 12% of available funds are allocated to reduce inequality, with most people preferring a considerable degree of economic inequality.
Researchers found a key regulator, importin IMB4, that holds kinesins in check until their cargo is needed. This process is crucial for building the plant cell wall and preventing waste.
Researchers have developed a new method to precisely map brain folds in premature infants, which could lead to early detection of developmental disorders. The technique uses 3-D imaging and computer algorithms to identify subtle patterns of growth and folding, providing a unique fingerprint for each infant's brain development.
A new study found that antibiotic prescriptions continue to be prescribed at high rates in outpatient settings, contributing to drug-resistant infections and excess healthcare costs. The researchers analyzed data from Express Scripts Holding Co. and found no decline in overall antibiotic prescription rates over a three-year period.
Researchers studied Dictyostelium discoideum in the wild using gene sequencing techniques. They found that genes related to social conflict were evolving rapidly, supporting laboratory experiments on social interactions. The study also showed that cells sacrifice themselves for relatives, demonstrating kin selection.
Researchers at Washington University developed a novel, low-cost technique to preserve blood and urine samples without refrigeration. The method uses nanoporous materials to protect protein biomarkers, maintaining 95% purity and enabling efficient transportation and analysis.
Researchers at Washington University in St. Louis have developed a method enabling effective insertion of large molecules into cells using acoustic shear poration and electrophoresis. The approach has achieved greater than 75 percent delivery efficiency of macromolecules, including DNA insertion, which is significantly more challenging.
A new study found that most NIH grants awarded to pediatric researchers in the past five years have been limited to senior physicians at a few institutions. This downward trend in funding affects early-career physician-scientists, potentially hindering research discoveries and patient treatments.
Researchers have discovered an ancient irrigation system in northwestern China that allowed farming communities to cultivate crops in one of the world's driest desert climates. The system, built around 3rd or 4th century A.D., used check dams, irrigation canals, and cisterns to feed small farm fields and support livestock production.
A collaborative team from Washington University in St. Louis conducted field studies in Raipur, India, to quantify the true scope of particulate emissions from cookstoves. They found that emissions were higher than previously estimated, with some cases exceeding twice the levels detected in laboratory experiments.
A new study from Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis suggests that kidney dysfunction increases the risk of diabetes. Elevated urea levels, which can be lowered through medication and diet, are a likely cause of this relationship.
Researchers found a three-fold increase in biodiversity during the Ordovician Period, coinciding with a significant rise in oxygen levels. The study suggests that atmospheric oxygen levels did not reach modern levels for millions of years after the Cambrian explosion.
New research from Washington University in St. Louis suggests ancient barley took a southern route to China, adapting to seasonal challenges along the way. The study, published in PLOS One, analyzed radiocarbon data and DNA evidence from ancient grains in China, India, Kyrgyzstan, and Pakistan.
Scientists at Washington University in St. Louis have developed the first experimental map of a cyanobacteria's water world, revealing pathways that could be used to deliver water to the active site. The discovery advances photosynthesis research and has implications for green fuels.