A team of researchers has created an acoustic microfluidic method to study swimming cells and microorganisms, including the single-cell alga Chlamydomonas reinhardtii. The device uses ultrasonic waves to trap cells in place without affecting their swimming behavior, enabling controlled experiments on cilia motion and cell motility.
A new study from Washington University in St. Louis offers a fine-grained scale to understand how people use social media, revealing four categories: belief-based, consumption-based, image-based and comparison-based. Each category is associated with unique personality traits and behavioral characteristics.
Cancer cells in brain tumors produce lipids at higher rates than surrounding healthy tissue, offering clues for treatment strategies. The study provides insights into the unique biochemical processes fueling cancer growth in the brain.
A multidisciplinary team led by Hong Chen successfully induced a torpor-like state in mice using ultrasound, which also worked on rats. The researchers found that stimulating the hypothalamus preoptic area with ultrasound activated neurons and induced changes in body temperature and metabolism, allowing for the preservation of energy.
A team of researchers developed a deep-learning model called WearNet that uses Fitbit data to detect depression and anxiety. The study found that WearNet performed better than state-of-the-art machine learning models in detecting these conditions, producing individual-level predictions.
A new study from Washington University in St. Louis found that extending fathers' leave in Estonia significantly reduced sexist attitudes, particularly among parents directly impacted by the policy. The research showed a notable shift in gender-equal views, with both fathers and mothers experiencing positive changes.
Researchers at Washington University in St. Louis have found a way to enhance glymphatic transport using focused ultrasound with microbubbles, opening new opportunities for studying brain diseases and function. The non-invasive method shows promise for potentially mitigating neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer's and Parkinson's.
Scientists have created a method to produce synthetic spider silk with eightfold higher yields than previous methods, making it a promising material for sustainable clothing production. The new silk fibers retain the desirable properties of enhanced strength and toughness while being lightweight.
Researchers from Washington University in St. Louis suggest that ancient humans may have chosen certain wild plants for domestication based on their ability to be easily 'tamed'. Plants with high plasticity, or the capacity to respond to environmental changes, can produce more yields and easier-to-sprout seeds.
Researchers used functional MRI scanners to monitor brains of subjects watching real-life videos, finding that different parts of the brain work together to understand and remember situations. The study suggests the brain creates mental sketches of people that can be transposed from one location to another.
Researchers Paul Byrne and Rebecca Hahn have compiled a global catalog of 85,000 volcanoes on Venus, providing the most comprehensive understanding of the planet's volcanic properties. The dataset includes detailed analyses of volcano distribution, size, and clustering, which will aid in locating future active lava flows.
Researchers found that hummingbirds can enter into deep or shallow torpor, and their ability to do so is tied to their evolutionary conquest of mountain habitats. Torpor duration varies depending on ambient temperature and physical condition.
Researchers developed a new approach to suturing based on the mechanics and spacing of a hitchhiker plant's attachment system, promising to balance forces across sutures and reduce failure rates in surgical procedures. The findings were published in Proceedings of the Royal Society A.
Researchers analyzed dental records from 10,000 people across 139 European sites to find that individuals living in areas with historically pro-male attitudes display more bias today than those living in egalitarian areas. Historical gender biases persist even after significant social and economic changes.
Researchers found that COVID-19 infections are linked to an increased risk of developing liver problems, acute pancreatitis, and other GI disorders. The study analyzed over 14 million medical records and estimated that SARS-CoV-2 infections have contributed to over 6 million new cases of GI disorders in the US.
A study found 38% of children in a rural Mississippi Delta community had parasitic worms or protist infections. This is a neglected health issue in low-resource areas, linked to poor sanitation and climate change. The researcher emphasizes the need for direct community engagement and investment in infrastructure to address these issues.
New research on malaria-infected bonobos shows that the infection harms them, too, with symptoms including fever and increased mortality risk. The study also finds that bonobos have a protective variant of an immune gene similar to one found in humans, suggesting a selective advantage for those individuals.
Researchers find that electrical discharge in Martian dust storms could be a major driving force of the planet's chlorine cycle. The study reveals high yields of chlorine gases from common chlorides when electrified by Martian conditions, indicating a promising pathway for converting surface chlorides to atmospheric phases.
Researchers have developed a new diagnostic test called p-LFAs that can detect and quantify protein concentrations to identify bacterial and viral infections. The test is 1,000 times more sensitive than conventional tests, returning results in just 20 minutes.
A study from Washington University in St. Louis found that day-long implicit bias-oriented training programs for US police departments are unlikely to reduce racial inequity in policing. Despite increased knowledge and motivation among officers, actual policing behaviors showed little change just one month after the training session.
Researchers at Washington University in St. Louis have developed a non-invasive method called sonobiopsy that uses focused ultrasound to release neurodegenerative biomarkers into the blood, facilitating diagnosis of conditions like Alzheimer’s disease. The technique has shown promising results in releasing tau proteins and another biom...
Researchers discovered a single protein called Gr8a that plays an inhibitory role in mating decision-making, helping flies avoid inter-breeding with the wrong partner. The findings provide insight into how signal production and perception are tied together, shedding light on pheromone communication.
A team of researchers has made two technical breakthroughs to grow high-quality 2D materials, overcoming challenges such as securing single crystallinity and preventing irregular thickness. Their method enables the growth of single-domain heterojunction TMDs at wafer scale, paving the way for next-generation electronics.
Researchers found poor adherence to surgical quality metrics in lung cancer patients, with only 40% receiving minimally invasive surgery and one-third receiving adequate lymph node sampling. Adherence to guidelines was associated with improved overall survival rates.
Researchers from Washington University in St. Louis and Purdue University used single-cell data to develop a new framework for understanding the relationship between cell growth, DNA replication, and division in bacteria. They found that individual cells can exquisitely coordinate these processes, despite the 'noisiness' of each process.
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 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.
Scientists at Washington University in St. Louis found that manganese oxides can be formed without atmospheric oxygen under Mars-like conditions. The study, published in Nature Geoscience, used kinetic modeling to show that halogens like chlorate and bromate can convert manganese into minerals thousands of times faster than by oxygen.
A team led by Abhinav Jha is developing a novel low-count quantitative single photon emission computed tomography (LC-QSPECT) method to measure the concentration of radiopharmaceutical material in tumors and vital organs. This technique aims to provide accurate measurements of absorbed dose from radiation therapy, helping plan treatmen...
Researchers developed a machine learning model that uses microbiome data from wastewater to estimate the number of individuals represented in a sample. The method was trained on over 1,100 people's samples and can be used to link wastewater properties to individual-level data.
A team of scientists found that small communities in Central Asia produced and supplied one-third of the tin found on a 3,000-year-old shipwreck. The tin was then traded to markets around the Mediterranean to make bronze metal.
A new machine learning fusion model has been developed to diagnose ovarian cancer more accurately by combining ultrasound and photoacoustic tomography imaging. The model achieved an accuracy of 90% in detecting ovarian lesions, outperforming previous methods.
A new study found that less frequent CT scans may reduce health-care costs and patient anxiety without compromising patient outcomes. The researchers analyzed medical records of over 6,000 patients with stage 1 non-small cell lung cancer who underwent surgery between 2006 and 2016.
A new study found that repeat SARS-CoV-2 infections contribute significant additional risk of adverse health conditions in multiple organ systems, including hospitalization, lung problems, heart conditions, and death. The researchers recommend strategies to prevent or reduce the risk of reinfection.
In northern China, about 4,000 years ago, farmers adopted a practice of purposeful water management to grow new grains. The results showed that the majority of wheat samples had isotopic values above an optimal watering threshold, indicating their growth was not limited by water availability.
Researchers use polarized X-ray measurements to refine models of black holes swallowing matter. The new data from Cygnus X-1 reveals a pencil-shaped plasma outflow and supports the hypothesis that processes near the black hole launch jets. This insight improves understanding of gravity's effects on space-time around black holes.
A study from Washington University in St. Louis found that amines used in herbicide formulations volatilize, releasing toxic particles into the atmosphere and affecting climate chemistry. The research highlights the importance of understanding amines' role in atmospheric pollution.
A new project will develop a technique to quantify uncertainty in AI-based tools used for image analysis and create a questionnaire to assess patients' risk tolerance when using these tools. The goal is to ensure that AI-assisted clinical decisions are informed by the inherent uncertainty of imaging technologies.
A new study from Washington University in St. Louis found that individuals who experienced personal harm during the COVID-19 pandemic were more likely to support and advocate for equality, particularly those who contracted COVID-19 or lost their jobs. This shift in attitudes was attributed to a greater understanding of structural facto...
Researchers documented social ties between individual chimpanzees and gorillas that persisted over years and across different contexts. The study found enhanced foraging opportunities to be a key benefit of interspecies social interactions, with apes sharing knowledge of diverse plant species.
A recent grant will fund a project developing new hardware for machine learning, aiming to curb unsustainable energy use in AI systems. The new algorithms being developed are made available to the research community and compatible with an openly shared computing platform.
A new study from Washington University in St. Louis finds that tighter school security measures are detrimental to academic performance, reducing test scores in math and increasing suspensions across all students. The burden of increased surveillance falls disproportionately on Black students, exacerbating racial inequities in education.
New research shows that COVID-19 infections can lead to a range of neurological complications in the first year after infection, including strokes, cognitive decline, depression, anxiety, and migraine headaches. The study analyzed over 14 million medical records and found that COVID-19 survivors were at increased risk of developing the...
Researchers developed a machine learning algorithm that can generate a continuous 3D model of cells from a partial set of 2D images. The neural field network learns a mapping from spatial coordinates to physical quantities, allowing for smooth zooming and no pixelation.
A new study found that female legislators receive 14% more issue requests from constituents and are 10% more likely to be contacted than their male counterparts. The increase in workload is seen on various issues, including education, health, and fiscal matters.
Researchers developed a unified machine learning model that analyzes data from patients with and without treatment, predicting depression outcomes better than separate models. The approach enables personalized medicine by designing treatment plans specific to each patient's needs.
Research from Washington University in St. Louis found that children exposed to cannabis in the womb continue to exhibit increased signs of psychiatric conditions, including depression and anxiety. The study, which followed over 10,500 children, revealed no significant changes in psychiatric condition rates as they aged into adolescence.
Researchers at Washington University in St. Louis have invented a technique to generate Airy beams in water using 3D-printed binary acoustic metasurfaces, enabling broad applications in biomedical imaging and therapy.
Scientists found that weedy rice has developed herbicide resistance through gene flow from crop rice, with most fields showing resistant plants within 20 years of herbicide-resistant rice cultivation. This rapid evolution is due to the close proximity of weedy and crop rice in the same fields, allowing for pollen transfer and outcrossing.
Researchers at Washington University in St. Louis are developing a new wound dressing to overcome obstacles to healing in people with diabetes, including chronic inflammation and delayed growth of new blood vessels.