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| Flu causes cardiac complications by directly infecting the heart Posted: 11 May 2022 11:23 AM PDT Researchers have shown for the first time in mice that heart problems associated with the flu are not caused by raging inflammation in the lungs, as has long been predicted. Instead, the electrical malfunctions and heart scarring seen in some of the sickest flu patients are caused by direct influenza infection of cardiac cells. |
| Livestock and dairying led to dramatic social changes in ancient Mongolia Posted: 11 May 2022 11:23 AM PDT The movement of herders and livestock into the eastern steppe is of great interest to researchers, but few scholars have linked the introduction of herds and horses to the rise of complex societies. |
| Designer neurons offer new hope for treatment of Parkinson's disease Posted: 11 May 2022 09:36 AM PDT Scientists describe a process for converting non-neuronal cells into functioning neurons able to take up residence in the brain, send out their fibrous branches across neural tissue, form synapses, dispense dopamine and restore capacities undermined by Parkinson's destruction of dopaminergic cells. |
| Multiple sclerosis: Glatiramer acetate compatible with breastfeeding, study suggests Posted: 11 May 2022 09:36 AM PDT For patients suffering from multiple sclerosis (MS), becoming a mother is fraught with difficult questions: is it acceptable to continue disease modifying treatment during pregnancy and breastfeeding to keep the disease at bay, or does this put the child at risk? A study on the drug glatiramer acetate can relieve mothers of this concern during the breastfeeding period. A comparative study between children whose mothers had taken the drug while breastfeeding and those who hadn't revealed no significant differences in several infant health outcomes during the first 18 months of life. |
| Novel supramolecular CRISPR-Cas9 carrier enables more efficient genome editing Posted: 11 May 2022 09:36 AM PDT CRISPR-Cas9 is considered a revolutionary gene editing tool, but its applications are limited by a lack of methods by which it can be safely and efficiently delivered into cells. Recently, a research team has constructed a highly flexible CRISPR-Cas9 carrier using aminated polyrotaxane (PRX) that can not only bind with the unusual structure of Cas9 and carry it into cells, but can also protect it from intracellular degradation by endosomes. |
| One particle on two paths: Quantum physics is right Posted: 11 May 2022 09:35 AM PDT The famous double slit experiment shows that particles can travel on two paths at the same time -- but only by looking at a lot of particles and analysing the results statistically. Now a two-path-interference experiment has been designed that only has to measure one specific particle to prove that it travelled on two paths. |
| Scientists study links between obesity, age and body chemistry Posted: 11 May 2022 09:35 AM PDT A team of scientists is making inroads in understanding the relationship between certain enzymes that are normally produced in the body and their role in regulating obesity and controlling liver diseases. Researchers studied male mice that lacked the Cyp2b enzyme and how the lack of the enzyme affected the mice's metabolism. |
| Hepatitis: 3D structure determination of the 'gateway' to the liver Posted: 11 May 2022 09:35 AM PDT Scientists have published a ground-breaking study of the structure and function of a central protein in the liver: NTCP, a cellular-entry pathway for bile salts, but also for certain hepatitis viruses. These results reveal the 3D structure of NTCP and two architectures it can adopt. One may be helpful in the development of therapeutic tools against hepatitis viral infection. |
| Structure of 'gliding bird' plant protein could lead to better crops Posted: 11 May 2022 09:35 AM PDT When pathogens attack, the NPR1 protein steps in to control a plant's immune response. Scientists have now figured out what the protein looks like and how it works --- a possible boon for agriculture. |
| Gut microbiome composition predictive of patient response to statins Posted: 11 May 2022 09:35 AM PDT Researchers show that different patient responses to statins can be explained by the variation in the human microbiome. The findings suggest that microbiome monitoring could be used to help optimize personalized statin treatments. |
| Increased mutations in children can be traced back to mistakes in father's sperm Posted: 11 May 2022 09:35 AM PDT Researchers have traced the cause of increased numbers of mutations in children to a higher rate of random mutations in sperm cells of the biological father, associated with rare genetic defects in DNA repair or chemotherapy. |
| Insights from algae genes unlock mysteries of plant growth and health Posted: 11 May 2022 09:35 AM PDT A new study has discovered the functions of hundreds of genes in algae, some of which are also present in plants. The achievement will help efforts to genetically engineer algae for biofuel production and develop strains of agricultural crops that can withstand climate change. |
| Ancient DNA gives new insights into 'lost' Indigenous people of Uruguay Posted: 11 May 2022 09:35 AM PDT The first whole genome sequences of the ancient people of Uruguay provide a genetic snapshot of Indigenous populations of the region before they were decimated by a series of European military campaigns. |
| Key protein identified for brain stem cell longevity Posted: 11 May 2022 09:35 AM PDT A receptor that was first identified as necessary for insulin action, that also is located on the neural stem cells found deep in the brains of mice, is pivotal for brain stem cell longevity, according to a new study, a finding that has important implications for brain health and future therapies for brain disorders. |
| Laser bursts drive extremely fast logic gates Posted: 11 May 2022 09:35 AM PDT By clarifying the role of 'real' and 'virtual' charge carriers in laser-induced currents, researchers have taken a decisive step toward creating ultrafast computers. |
| Traveling to the centre of planet Uranus: Materials synthesis research and study in terapascal range Posted: 11 May 2022 09:35 AM PDT Jules Verne could not even dream of this: A research team has pushed the boundaries of high-pressure and high-temperature research into cosmic dimensions. For the first time, they have succeeded in generating and simultaneously analyzing materials under compression pressures of more than one terapascal (1,000 gigapascals). Such extremely high pressures prevail, for example, at the center of the planet Uranus; they are more than three times higher than the pressure at the center of the Earth. |
| For outdoor workers, extreme heat poses extreme danger Posted: 11 May 2022 09:34 AM PDT Scientists explore the growing threat that extreme heat poses to workforce health in three of the hottest cities in North America -- Las Vegas, Los Angeles, and Phoenix. Their study results hold important findings for outdoor workers, their employers, and policymakers across the Southwestern U.S. |
| Ancient microorganisms found in halite may have implications for search for life Posted: 11 May 2022 09:34 AM PDT Primary fluid inclusions in bedded halite from the 830-million-year-old Browne Formation of central Australia contain organic solids and liquids, as documented with transmitted light and UV-vis petrography. These objects are consistent in size, shape, and fluorescent response to cells of prokaryotes and algae, and aggregates of organic compounds. This discovery shows that microorganisms from saline depositional environments can remain well preserved in halite over hundreds of millions of years and can be detected in situ with optical methods alone. This study has implications for the search for life in both terrestrial and extraterrestrial chemical sedimentary rocks. |
| Discovery of cell protein that keeps Kaposi's sarcoma herpesvirus dormant Posted: 11 May 2022 09:34 AM PDT A study has identified a binding protein in cancer cell's nucleus, known as CHD4, as a critical agent keeping Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (KSHV) dormant and undetected by the body's immune system. CHD4 is linked to cancer cell growth in many types of cancers. |
| 'Control sugar levels sooner to guard against heart attacks' finds new study into type 2 diabetes Posted: 11 May 2022 07:49 AM PDT People with type 2 diabetes may need to reduce their blood sugar levels sooner after diagnosis than previously thought, to prevent major cardiovascular events such as heart attacks, according to new research. |
| How a leaky gut leads to inflamed lungs Posted: 11 May 2022 07:49 AM PDT In addition to increased morbidity and impaired lung function after a Streptococcus pneumoniaeinfection in older mice, the researchers also found elevated levels of gut-derived bacteria in the lungs, suggesting that bacteria that migrate from the intestine to the lungs may partially be responsible for the poor outcomes in older individuals. |
| Seeing more species at the coast improves wellbeing: Yet another benefit of biodiversity Posted: 11 May 2022 07:28 AM PDT Seeing a larger number of species on urban coastlines -- from marine animals to seaweed -- is likely to improve the wellbeing of local people and visitors, new research has revealed. The findings provide further evidence that biodiversity brings wide-ranging benefits. Studies of land-based environments such as meadows, woodlands, and city parks have shown that people often find places that contain lots of different types of plant and animal life to be more visually pleasing and interesting, as well as more likely to relieve stress. However, we know much less about seashore species and whether they generate the same positive feelings that land-based wildlife does, despite almost half of the world's population living close to the coast. |
| Scientists discovers new properties of magnetism that could change our computers Posted: 11 May 2022 07:28 AM PDT A fundamental property of magnetism has been disclosed through new research. The discovery may be key to development of a new generation of powerful computers. |
| Research shows the role empathy may play in music Posted: 11 May 2022 07:28 AM PDT Can people who understand the emotions of others better interpret emotions conveyed through music? A new study by an international team of researchers suggests the abilities are linked. |
| Toxoplasmosis: Propagation of parasite in host cell stopped Posted: 11 May 2022 07:28 AM PDT A new method blocks the protein regulation of the parasite Toxoplasma gondii and causes it to die off inside the host cell. |
| Posted: 11 May 2022 07:28 AM PDT Many doctors caution their pregnant patients to avoid cat feces; even the family pet's litter box is off-limits. Now a group of researchers from Clemson University have discovered a promising therapy for those who suffer from toxoplasmosis, a disease caused by the microscopic protozoa Toxoplasma gondii. |
| Researchers reveal the origin story for carbon-12, a building block for life Posted: 11 May 2022 07:27 AM PDT After running simulations on the world's most powerful supercomputer, an international team of researchers has developed a theory for the nuclear structure and origin of carbon-12, the stuff of life. The theory favors the production of carbon-12 in the cosmos. |
| Some shunts used after epilepsy surgery may risk brain shifting and chronic headaches Posted: 11 May 2022 07:27 AM PDT A new study associates some types of shunts used after epilepsy surgery with brains shifting toward the side of the skull. |
| Researchers find way to form diodes from superconductors Posted: 11 May 2022 07:27 AM PDT Researchers have demonstrated how a heterostructure consisting of superconductors and magnets can be used to create uni-directional current like that found in semiconductor diodes. |
| Posted: 11 May 2022 07:27 AM PDT The condition, known as hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE), can result in severe brain damage, which is why researchers are studying the condition to evaluate how HIE is treated and develop new, more effective options. |
| Posted: 11 May 2022 06:22 AM PDT Learning from others can mitigate harmful risk aversion, even if the others we learn from tend to avoid risky, but profitable decisions themselves. This is shown in mathematical modelling and large-scale online experiments by social psychologists. |
| Effects of stress on adolescent brain's 'triple network' Posted: 11 May 2022 06:22 AM PDT Stress and trauma during adolescence can lead to long-term health consequences such as psychiatric disorders, which may arise from neurodevelopmental effects on brain circuitry. A new study has used functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to examine the effects of acute stress and 'polyvicitimization,' or repeated traumas, on three brain networks in adolescents. |
| Efficient production technique for a novel 'green' fertilizer Posted: 11 May 2022 06:22 AM PDT A purely mechanical method can produce a novel, more sustainable fertilizer in a less polluting way. Scientists have optimized a production method that is an adaptation of an ancient technique: by milling two common ingredients, urea and gypsum, the scientists produce a new solid compound that slowly releases two chemical elements critical to soil fertilization, nitrogen, and calcium. The milling method is rapid, efficient, and clean -- as is the fertilizer product, which has the potential to reduce the nitrogen pollution that fouls water systems and contributes to climate change. |
| Small, mini, nano: Gear units created from a few atoms Posted: 11 May 2022 05:57 AM PDT Ever smaller and more intricate -- without miniaturization, we wouldn't have the components today that are required for high-performance laptops, compact smartphones or high-resolution endoscopes. Research is now being carried out in the nanoscale on switches, rotors or motors that comprise of only a few atoms in order to build what are known as molecular machines. |
| Rising income inequality linked to Americans' declining health Posted: 11 May 2022 05:57 AM PDT Rising levels of income inequality in the United States may be one reason that the health of Americans has been declining in recent decades, new research suggests. |
| Machine learning framework IDs targets for improving catalysts Posted: 11 May 2022 05:57 AM PDT Chemists have developed a new machine-learning (ML) framework that can zero in on which steps of a multistep chemical conversion should be tweaked to improve productivity. The approach could help guide the design of catalysts -- chemical 'dealmakers' that speed up reactions. |
| Fruit flies prioritize mating over survival Posted: 11 May 2022 05:57 AM PDT Fruit flies continue to mate with each other even when infected with deadly pathogens -- reveals a new study. |
| DNA provides unique look at moa and climate change Posted: 11 May 2022 05:57 AM PDT Ancient moa DNA has provided insights into how species react to climate change, a new study has found. |
| Multiple diagnoses are the norm for mental illness; A new genetic analysis helps explain why Posted: 11 May 2022 05:57 AM PDT An analysis of 11 major psychiatric disorders offers new insight into why comorbidities are the norm when it comes to mental illness. The study suggests that while there is no single gene or set of genes underlying risk for all of them, subsets of disorders -- including bipolar disorder and schizophrenia; anorexia nervosa and obsessive-compulsive disorder; and major depression and anxiety --s hare a common genetic architecture. |
| How 'calming' our spinal cords could provide relief from muscle spasms Posted: 11 May 2022 05:57 AM PDT Poor sleep, difficulty moving and injuries from hitting something accidentally are just some of the challenges faced by suffers of often-painful involuntary muscle spasms. However, a new study investigating motoneurons in the spine has revealed two methods can make our spinal cords less 'excitable' and could potentially be used to treat muscle spasms. |
| Single cell RNA sequencing uncovers new mechanisms of heart disease Posted: 10 May 2022 03:55 PM PDT Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy is a heart disease that leads to a stressed, swollen heart muscle. Due to a poor understanding of underlying mechanisms, effective clinical treatments are not available. Patients receive generic heart medication and sometimes need open-heart surgery to remove excess tissue. Researchers have now successfully applied a new revolutionary technology (scRNA-seq) to uncover underlying disease mechanisms, including specifically those causing the swelling. The extensive 'big data' set is a treasure trove of novel observations that give insight in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy and potential new therapeutic venues. |
| Artificial cell membrane channels composed of DNA can be opened and locked with a key Posted: 10 May 2022 03:55 PM PDT Scientists describe the design and construction of artificial membrane channels, engineered using short segments of DNA. The DNA constructions behave much in the manner of natural cell channels or pores, offering selective transport of ions, proteins, and other cargo, with enhanced features unavailable in their naturally occurring counterparts. |
| Brain searches for the best way to move the body Posted: 10 May 2022 12:15 PM PDT Research that examines how the body adapts to new movements is shedding new light on how the nervous system learns, and could help to inform a wide range of applications, from customized rehabilitation and athletic training to wearable systems for healthcare. |
| Wildlife: What makes some animals more afraid of change than others? Posted: 10 May 2022 11:03 AM PDT Humans are undoubtedly altering the natural environment. But how wild animals respond to these changes is complex and unclear. Scientists have now discovered significant differences in how the brain works in two distinct personality types: those who act fearless and those who seem afraid of new things. Being fearless can help wildlife, specifically birds, find new food sources, explore new nesting areas and help them adapt to changes in their environment; but being afraid can also help protect them from dangerous novel things in their environment such as cars. |
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