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| Lighting the way to healthier daily rhythms Posted: 17 Mar 2022 11:37 AM PDT A new report addresses the issue of exactly how bright lighting should be during the day and in the evening to support healthy body rhythms, restful sleep, and daytime alertness. |
| Scientists discover why women are more resistant to nonalcoholic fatty liver disease than men Posted: 17 Mar 2022 09:04 AM PDT Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is one of the leading causes of death worldwide. However, why premenopausal women are more resistant to NAFLD than men is currently unknown. Now, scientists demonstrate, through sex-balanced experiments on mice, that the female liver produces higher levels of a protein that has a protective effect against NAFLD. Their findings could lead to new therapeutic strategies for treating NAFLD. |
| AI provides accurate breast density classification Posted: 17 Mar 2022 09:04 AM PDT An artificial intelligence (AI) tool can accurately and consistently classify breast density on mammograms, according to a new study. |
| Mathematical paradoxes demonstrate the limits of AI Posted: 17 Mar 2022 09:03 AM PDT Humans are usually pretty good at recognizing when they get things wrong, but artificial intelligence systems are not. According to a new study, AI generally suffers from inherent limitations due to a century-old mathematical paradox. |
| Researchers put a spotlight on aggressive cancer cells Posted: 17 Mar 2022 09:03 AM PDT Metastases in cancer are often caused by a few abnormal cells. These behave more aggressively than the other cancer cells in a tumor. Researchers are now on a method to detect these cells. |
| Engineering an 'invisible cloak' for bacteria to deliver drugs to tumors Posted: 17 Mar 2022 09:03 AM PDT Researchers have genetically engineered a microbial encapsulation system for therapeutic bacteria that can hide them from immune systems, enabling them to reach tumors more effectively and kill cancer cells in mice. |
| The oxidation of volcanoes -- a magma opus Posted: 17 Mar 2022 09:03 AM PDT A new study unlocks the science behind a key ingredient -- namely oxygen -- in some of the world's most violent volcanoes. The research offers a new model for understanding the oxidation state of arc magmas, the lavas that form some volcanoes, such as the one that erupted dramatically in Tonga earlier this year. The plume from Tonga's underwater volcanic eruption on Jan. 15 rose 36 miles into the air. Ash from the volcano reached the mesosphere, Earth's third layer of atmosphere. |
| In U.S., alcohol use disorder linked to 232 million missed workdays annually Posted: 17 Mar 2022 08:19 AM PDT Researchers have found that people with severe alcohol use disorder miss more than double the number of workdays missed by individuals without alcohol use disorder. |
| Posted: 17 Mar 2022 08:19 AM PDT A delta breakthrough infection generates a potent and broad neutralizing antibody response to SARS-CoV-2 in double vaccinated individuals, according to new research. |
| Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease treatment shows promising early results Posted: 17 Mar 2022 08:19 AM PDT A promising new treatment for Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD) has shown 'very encouraging' early results following its use in six patients. |
| Large study on traumatic brain injury highlights global inequality in causes and treatment Posted: 17 Mar 2022 08:19 AM PDT A large study examining the surgical management of traumatic brain injuries highlights regional inequalities in both major causes and treatment of such injuries. |
| A gene could prevent Parkinson's disease Posted: 17 Mar 2022 08:19 AM PDT Parkinson's disease is a neurodegenerative disorder characterized by the destruction of a specific population of neurons: the dopaminergic neurons. A team has investigated the destruction of these dopaminergic neurons using the fruit fly as study model. The scientists identified a key protein in flies, and also in mice, which plays a protective role against this disease and could be a new therapeutic target. |
| Black swifts descended rapidly during lunar eclipse Posted: 17 Mar 2022 08:19 AM PDT An international research team has studied the flight behavior of the mysterious black swift. They found, among other things, that the black swift rises to extreme heights during a full moon, seemingly catching insects in the moonlight. And, during a lunar eclipse, the birds simultaneously lost altitude. |
| Aspects of Asian elephants’ social life are related to their amount of stress hormones Posted: 17 Mar 2022 08:19 AM PDT An international team of scientists found that sociality is linked to stress in Asian elephants. For example, loneliness increased male elephants' level of stress, whereas having babies present reduced the stress level in female elephants. |
| Rare monkey adapts to fragmented habitat by dieting and reducing activity Posted: 17 Mar 2022 08:18 AM PDT A team of scientists found that a rare species of monkey in Bolivia has adapted to living in a fragmented forest by dieting and moving less during lean times. |
| New PCR test can identify all SARS-CoV-2 variants in a positive patient sample Posted: 17 Mar 2022 08:18 AM PDT As SARS-C0V-2 variants emerged, researchers developed a PCR test that uses molecular beacons not only to diagnose COVID-19 infection, but also to identify the specific variant causing that infection. |
| Plasma biomarker screening could improve accuracy, health equity in Alzheimer’s disease diagnosis Posted: 17 Mar 2022 08:18 AM PDT A new study focuses on RNA molecules in plasma as biomarkers for Alzheimer's disease in African Americans -- the population at greatest risk for developing Alzheimer's disease. This approach enabled researchers to pinpoint specific molecules in plasma that could serve as biomarkers to confirm a diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease in this population. |
| Alzheimer’s: Protective immune cells active decades before symptom onset Posted: 17 Mar 2022 06:47 AM PDT In individuals with a genetic predisposition to Alzheimer's disease, the immune cells of the brain -- the 'microglia' -- start exerting a protective effect up to two decades before the first symptoms appear. A team draws this conclusion based on a study of more than 200 volunteers. In light of their study data, the scientists consider modulating the activity of microglia to be a promising therapeutic approach. To this end, they aim to develop drugs that target a cellular receptor called TREM2. |
| Moon's orbit proposed as a gravitational wave detector Posted: 17 Mar 2022 06:47 AM PDT Researchers propose using the variations in distance between the Earth and the Moon, which can be measured with a precision of less than a centimeter, as a new gravitational wave detector within a frequency range that current devices cannot detect. The research could pave the way for the detection of signals from the early universe. |
| Public transport: AI assesses resilience of timetables Posted: 17 Mar 2022 06:47 AM PDT A brief traffic jam, a stuck door, or many passengers getting on and off at a stop - even small delays in the timetables of trains and buses can lead to major problems. A new artificial intelligence (AI) could help designing schedules that are less susceptible to those minor disruptions. |
| New study finds higher rates of newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes after infection with mild COVID-19 Posted: 17 Mar 2022 06:47 AM PDT New research suggests a possible association between mild COVID-19 cases and subsequently diagnosing type 2 diabetes. |
| Monkeys play to reduce group tension Posted: 17 Mar 2022 06:47 AM PDT New research has discovered that monkeys use play to avoid conflict and reduce group tension. The study found that adult howler monkeys spend more time playing with other adults, rather than juveniles. And rather than being associated with fun or education, play increases when howler monkeys are foraging for fruit, which is a highly prized resource that generates competition. |
| Mother to child transmission of COVID-19 infection, possible but rare, study finds Posted: 17 Mar 2022 06:47 AM PDT SARS-CoV-2, the virus causing the COVID-19 infection, can be transmitted from mother to baby before, during and after childbirth -- but such occurrences are rare, a new study reveals. |
| If blood pressure rises upon standing, so may risk for heart attack Posted: 17 Mar 2022 06:47 AM PDT Young and middle-aged adults with high blood pressure whose systolic blood pressure (top-number) rose more than 6.5 mm Hg upon standing were more likely to later have a heart attack, stroke, heart-related chest pain or other major heart disease-related event than those with lower systolic blood pressure in response to standing. The researchers highlight the importance of measuring standing blood pressure in young and middle-aged adults with hypertension, suggesting early treatment for those who have elevated blood pressure upon standing. |
| One bird's joy is another bird's sorrow Posted: 17 Mar 2022 06:47 AM PDT A genetic conflict between the sexes promotes intraspecific diversity in ruffs. Ruffs are characterized by three supergene variants that lead to different appearances and courtship behavior in males. Whether these variants affect females was previously unknown. Researchers now show that females of the so-called Faeder variant produce less offspring. However, this female handicap helps their males: Disguised as females, Faeder males benefit from their own rarity and obtain more matings. The contrasting effect of the variant in males and females thus contributes to its persistence over time. The study thereby provides important insights into the mechanisms that maintain biodiversity. |
| Do 'behavioral psychedelics' help patients make lasting, positive change? Posted: 16 Mar 2022 02:33 PM PDT Psychedelics may find new, legitimate roles in treatment for anxiety, depression, stress disorders, addiction, and other mental and behavioral health problems. But ensuring they do requires developing rigorous, standardized methods to study and apply the results, according to a new report. |
| Novel theory of entropy may solve materials design issues Posted: 16 Mar 2022 02:33 PM PDT A challenge in materials design is that in both natural and humanmade materials, volume sometimes decreases, or increases, with increasing temperature. While there are mechanical explanations for this phenomenon for some specific materials, a general understanding of why this sometimes happens remains lacking. |
| Trial testing cocoa flavanol supplement shows promise for reducing cardiovascular risk Posted: 16 Mar 2022 02:33 PM PDT The first large-scale trial to test the long-term effects of a cocoa flavanol supplement to prevent cardiovascular disease offers promising signals that cocoa flavanols could have protective cardiovascular effects. |
| Even with statins, high triglycerides may increase risk of second stroke Posted: 16 Mar 2022 02:33 PM PDT Stroke can have many causes. An atherothrombotic stroke is caused by a clot that forms from plaques that build up within blood vessels in the brain. A new study suggests that people who have this type of stroke who also have higher levels of triglycerides, a type of fat, in their blood may have a higher risk of having another stroke or other cardiovascular problems one year later, compared to people who had a stroke but have lower triglyceride levels. The study found an association even when people were taking statin drugs meant to lower triglycerides and protect against heart attack and stroke. |
| Scientists identify neurons in the brain that drive competition and social behavior within groups Posted: 16 Mar 2022 02:32 PM PDT In mice, social ranking in a group was linked to the results of competition, and certain neurons in the brain stored this social ranking information to inform decisions. Manipulating the activity of these neurons could increase or decrease an animal's competitive effort and therefore control their ability to successfully compete against others. |
| Blood test may indicate higher risk pregnancies in patients with COVID-19 Posted: 16 Mar 2022 02:32 PM PDT A small preliminary study has shown that a blood test may identify risk of stillbirth and placentitis in pregnant individuals who have had COVID-19. The finding builds on another study with similar results and could have implications in how physicians screen for and address high-risk pregnancies. |
| Researchers find direct links between deforestation and reduced dietary quality Posted: 16 Mar 2022 02:32 PM PDT Current policies for guaranteeing food security emphasize the importance of farmland, but forests play critical roles as well. Forested areas can help communities that rely on wild foods to diversify their diets and meet their nutritional needs, according to researchers who found direct links between deforestation and reduced fruit and vegetable consumption in rural Tanzania. |
| Inhalable 'aerogel' triggers immunity to COVID-19 in mice, may block transmission Posted: 16 Mar 2022 11:58 AM PDT An inhalable 'aerogel' loaded with DNA that encodes for the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein successfully induces an immune response against COVID-19 in the lungs of mice, according to new research. The team said its aerogel could be used to create an inhalable vaccine that blocks SARS-CoV-2 transmission by preventing the virus from establishing an infection in the lungs. |
| Exposure to phthalates -- the 'everywhere chemical' -- may increase children's cancer risk Posted: 16 Mar 2022 11:58 AM PDT New research has linked phthalates, commonly called the 'everywhere chemical,' to higher incidence of specific childhood cancers. |
| Posted: 16 Mar 2022 11:58 AM PDT A research team has discovered novel metabolic mechanisms that contribute to how ovarian cancer escapes from immune attack, and how combination therapies can exploit these pathways to improve ovarian cancer treatment. |
| Toxin-producing yeast strains in gut fuel IBD Posted: 16 Mar 2022 11:58 AM PDT Individual Candida albicans yeast strains in the human gut are as different from each other as the humans that carry them, and some C. albicans strains may damage the gut of patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), according to a new study. The findings suggest a possible way to tailor treatments to individual patients in the future. |
| Study finds association between cigarette tax and reduced infant deaths Posted: 16 Mar 2022 11:58 AM PDT Raising taxes on tobacco is associated with a reduction in neonatal and infant mortality, according to an analysis of 159 countries. |
| ACC issues clinical guidance on cardiovascular consequences of COVID-19 Posted: 16 Mar 2022 11:57 AM PDT The American College of Cardiology has issued an expert consensus decision pathway for the evaluation and management of adults with key cardiovascular consequences of COVID-19. The document discusses myocarditis and other types of myocardial involvement, patient-centered approaches for long COVID and guidance on resumption of exercise following COVID-19. |
| Effects of ancient carbon releases suggest possible scenarios for future climate Posted: 16 Mar 2022 11:57 AM PDT A massive release of greenhouse gases, likely triggered by volcanic activity, caused a period of extreme global warming known as the Paleocene-Eocene Thermal Maximum (PETM) about 56 million years ago. A new study now confirms that the PETM was preceded by a smaller episode of warming and ocean acidification caused by a shorter burst of carbon emissions. The short-lived precursor event represents what might happen if current emissions can be shut down quickly, while the much more extreme global warming of the PETM shows the consequences of continuing to release carbon into the atmosphere at the current rate. |
| 3D matrix ultrasound accurately identifies cardiovascular injury in healthy individuals Posted: 16 Mar 2022 11:57 AM PDT A study shows that 3D ultrasound incorporating new matrix technology is reliable, accurate, and faster than previous methods for the assessment of plaque volume in the carotid and femoral arteries. |
| BirdBot is energy-efficient thanks to nature as a model Posted: 16 Mar 2022 11:57 AM PDT A team of scientists has constructed a robot leg that, like its natural model, is very energy efficient. BirdBot benefits from a foot-leg coupling through a network of muscles and tendons that extends across multiple joints. In this way, BirdBot needs fewer motors than previous legged robots and could, theoretically, scale to large size. |
| Largest ever psychedelics study maps changes of conscious awareness to neurotransmitter systems Posted: 16 Mar 2022 11:57 AM PDT In the world's largest study on psychedelics and the brain, a team of researchers have shown how drug-induced changes in subjective awareness are anatomically rooted in specific neurotransmitter receptor systems. |
| A possible new COVID-19 vaccine could be accessible for more of the world Posted: 16 Mar 2022 11:57 AM PDT A new protein subunit vaccine may offer an inexpensive, easy-to-store, and effective alternative to RNA vaccines for COVID-19. |
| What regulates the 'glue' needed for nerve repair? Posted: 16 Mar 2022 11:57 AM PDT Researchers have identified a molecule essential for regulating the repair of injured nerves, which could help people recover from nerve damage. |
| A potential new target for cancer immunotherapies Posted: 16 Mar 2022 11:57 AM PDT Tumors can use an enzyme called ART1 to thwart antitumor immune cells, making the enzyme a promising new target for immunity-boosting cancer treatments, according to a new study. |
| U.S. fires four times larger, three times more frequent since 2000 Posted: 16 Mar 2022 11:57 AM PDT Fires have gotten larger, more frequent and more widespread across the United States since 2000, according to a new article. The research shows that large fires have not only become more common, they are also spreading into new areas, impacting land that previously did not burn. |
| Losartan is not effective in reducing COVID-19 lung injuries, researchers find Posted: 16 Mar 2022 11:55 AM PDT Research found that a common blood pressure medication -- losartan -- is not effective in reducing lung injury in patients with COVID-19. |
| Posted: 16 Mar 2022 10:27 AM PDT In what they call surprise findings, scientists report that -- unlike fruit flies -- mosquitoes' odor sensing nerve cells shut down when those cells are forced to produce odor-related proteins, or receptors, on the surface of the cell. This 'expression' process apparently makes the bugs able to ignore common insect repellents. |
| Researchers may have unlocked the blood-brain barrier Posted: 16 Mar 2022 10:27 AM PDT The brain is composed of billions of neurons -- vulnerable cells that require a protective environment to function properly. This delicate environment is protected by 400 miles of specialized vasculature designed to limit which substances come into contact with the brain. This blood-brain barrier is essential for protecting the organ from toxins and pathogens. But it also blocks the passage of therapeutic drugs. |
| Discovery uncovers a new leaf for Redwoods Posted: 16 Mar 2022 10:27 AM PDT Redwood trees have two types of leaves, one to make food and the other to absorb water, found a new study. It's the first study to estimate whole-crown water absorption in a large, mature tree. The findings can help scientists monitor redwoods' adaptability amid a changing climate and deepens our understanding of the resilience of these massive trees. |
| Posted: 16 Mar 2022 10:27 AM PDT Researchers have found a way to improve the ability of catalysts made from metal-metal oxides to convert non-edible plants, such as wood, grass and corn stover into renewable fuels, chemicals and plastics. Metal oxide catalysts are central to reactions for upgrading petrochemicals, fine chemicals, pharmaceuticals and biomass. |
| Cheaper, more efficient ways to capture carbon Posted: 16 Mar 2022 10:27 AM PDT Researchers have developed a new tool that could lead to more efficient and cheaper technologies for capturing heat-trapping gases from the atmosphere and converting them into beneficial substances, like fuel or building materials. |
| What's the prevailing opinion on social media? Look at the flocks, says researcher Posted: 16 Mar 2022 10:26 AM PDT A communication researcher has developed a framework for measuring the slippery concept of social media public opinion. Murmuration identifies meaningful groups of social media actors based on the 'who-follows-whom' relationship. The actors attract like-minded followers to form 'flocks,' which serve as the units of analysis. As opinions form and shift in response to external events, the flocks' unfolding opinions move like the fluid murmuration of airborne starlings. |
| Burst of rapid cell motion in 3D tumor model Posted: 16 Mar 2022 10:26 AM PDT Biological processes such as wound healing and cancer cell invasion rely on the collective and coordinated motion of living cells. A little understood aspect that influences these processes is the pressure differences within and between different parts of the body. Researchers designed model tumor systems using cervical cancer cells in collagen matrices to investigate whether pressure differences can push cancer cells into their surroundings. Upon embedding the model tumors into a soft matrix, an increased pressure led to a sudden burst of rapid and coordinated cellular motion that sprayed outwards from the tumor. |
| Pivotal technique harnesses cutting-edge AI capabilities to model and map the natural environment Posted: 16 Mar 2022 10:26 AM PDT Scientists have developed a pioneering new technique that harnesses the cutting-edge capabilities of AI to model and map the natural environment in intricate detail. |
| Molecular imaging uncovers effects of COVID-19 on the brain Posted: 16 Mar 2022 09:08 AM PDT A significant number of COVID-19 neurological complications -- such as fatigue, headache, and cognitive impairment--are ultimately reversible, according to new research. The comprehensive literature review of molecular imaging findings sheds light on how COVID-19 affects the brain and identifies important implications for other neurological conditions, like Parkinson's disease or Alzheimer's disease. |
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