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Science2 Feb 2024

Welch Foundation supports Johnson-Winters' TB research

With a $300,000 grant, the Welch Foundation is supporting University of Texas at Arlington research into why some types of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb), the bacteria that causes the lung disease tuberculosis (TB), do not respond to treatments. Since its founding in 1954, the Houston-based Welch Foundation has contributed to the advancement of chemistry through research grants, departmental programs, endowed chairs and other special projects in Texas. “As one of the nation’s largest private funding sources for chemical research, it is our job ...

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Technology2 Feb 2024

A sleeker facial recognition technology tested on Michelangelo’s David

Many people are familiar with facial recognition systems that unlock smartphones and game systems or allow access to our bank accounts online. But the current technology can require boxy projectors and lenses. Now, researchers report in ACS’ Nano Letters a sleeker 3D surface imaging system with flatter, simplified optics. In proof-of-concept demonstrations, the new system recognized the face of Michelangelo’s David just as well as an existing smartphone system. 3D surface imaging is a common tool used in smartphone facial recognition, as well as in computer vision and autonomous driving. These systems typically consist of a dot projector that contains multiple components: ...

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Environment2 Feb 2024

Plant groupings in drylands support ecosystem resilience

Many complex systems, from microbial communities to mussel beds to drylands, display striking self-organized clusters. According to theoretical models, these groupings play an important role in how an ecosystem works and its ability to respond to environmental changes. A new paper in PNAS focused on the spatial patterns found in drylands offers important empirical evidence validating the models. Drylands make up 40 percent of the Earth’s landmass and are places where water is the limiting resource for life. They often display a characteristic ...

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Medicine2 Feb 2024

Scientists see an ultra-fast movement on surface of HIV virus

DURHAM, N.C. – As the HIV virus glides up outside a human cell to dock and possibly inject its deadly cargo of genetic code, there’s a spectacularly brief moment in which a tiny piece of its surface snaps open to begin the process of infection. Seeing that structure snap open and shut in mere millionths of a second is giving Duke Human Vaccine Institute (DHVI) investigators a new handle on the surface of the virus that could lead to broadly neutralizing antibodies for an AIDS vaccine. Their findings appear Feb. 2 in Science Advances. Being able to attach an antibody specifically to ...

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Medicine2 Feb 2024

Gene editing precisely repairs immune cells

Some hereditary genetic defects cause an exaggerated immune response that can be fatal. Using the CRISPR-Cas9 gene-editing tool, such defects can be corrected, thus normalizing the immune response, as researchers led by Klaus Rajewsky from the Max Delbrück Center now report in “Science Immunology.” Familial hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (FHL) is a rare disease of the immune system that usually occurs in infants and young children under the age of 18 months. The condition is severe and has a high mortality rate. It is caused by various gene mutations that prevent cytotoxic T cells from functioning normally. These ...

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Medicine2 Feb 2024

COPD: The effect of low-dose cadmium, a highly toxic metal, on airway epithelial cells

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – Cigarette smoke exposure is associated with the development and severity of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, or COPD, which is the third leading cause of death worldwide. Cigarette smoke contains 2 to 3 micrograms of cadmium, a highly toxic metal and environmental pollutant, per cigarette. Burning tobacco releases cadmium oxide that can be adsorbed onto microparticles in smoke that travel deep into the lungs. Furthermore, the body is not able to remove cadmium, which accumulates in longtime smokers. In ...

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Technology2 Feb 2024

Regulation makes crypto markets more efficient

First-of-its-kind research on cryptocurrency finds that the most regulated coins create the most efficient markets. That crypto regulation, often provided by cryptocurrency exchanges like Binance, can also help protect investors by providing reliable, public information. “Both small and institutional investors should know, if they invest in coins without any regulation, they may suffer from price manipulation or a severe lack of insider information,” said Liangfei Qiu, a University of Florida professor of business and one of the authors of the new study. “Instead, they may want to invest in coins listed with platforms ...

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Space2 Feb 2024

Centuries-old texts penned by early astronomers Copernicus and Sacrobosco find new home at RIT

The ancient astronomer Nicolaus Copernicus was the first scientist to document the theory that the sun is the center of the universe in his book, De Revolutionibus Orbium Coelestium (On the Revolutions of the Heavenly Spheres). That first edition book, along with a delicate manuscript from astronomer Johannes de Sacrobosco, that is contrary to Copernicus’ groundbreaking theory, has now found a permanent home at Rochester Institute of Technology. The texts were donated to RIT’s Cary Graphic Arts Collection, one of the world’s premier libraries on graphic communication history and practices. The donor is Irene ...

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Science2 Feb 2024

Mechanism discovered that protects tissue after faulty gene expression

The genetic material, in the form of DNA, contains the information that is crucial for the correct functioning of every human and animal cell. From this information repository, RNA, an intermediate between DNA and protein, the functional unit of the cell, is generated. During this process, the genetic information must be tailored for specific cell functions. Information that is not needed (introns) is cut out of the RNA and the important components for proteins (exons) are preserved. A team of researchers led by Professor Dr Mirka Uhlirova at the University of Cologne’s CECAD Cluster of ...

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Medicine2 Feb 2024

Proteins suggest a path to reduce drug resistance in a form of cancer

RICHLAND, Wash.—Doctors have nearly a dozen new targeted drugs to treat patients with acute myeloid leukemia, or AML, yet three of four patients still die within five years. Some patients succumb within just a month or two, despite the battery of drugs used to treat the aggressive blood disease, where blood cells don’t develop properly. A new study draws on a field of science known as proteogenomics to try to improve the outlook. In a paper published Jan. 16 in Cell Reports Medicine, scientists report new ...

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Science2 Feb 2024

Unveiling Oxidation-induced Super-elasticity in Metallic Glass Nanotubes

Oxidation can degrade the properties and functionality of metals. However, a research team co-led by scientists from City University of Hong Kong (CityU) recently found that severely oxidized metallic glass nanotubes can attain an ultrahigh recoverable elastic strain, outperforming most conventional super-elastic metals. They also discovered the physical mechanisms underpinning this super-elasticity. Their discovery implies that oxidation in low-dimension metallic glass can result in unique properties for ...

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Social Science2 Feb 2024

Ambitious workers park the office politics when employer is struggling, study suggests

One of the study authors, Professor Hans Frankort, Professor of Strategy at Bayes Business School, City, University of London, said: “Sports – particularly motorsports – can be a good proxy for several other industries as they are extremely competitive: if you don’t perform and progress you may be out. Workers in sectors such as consultancy and financial services face similar pressures.” The peer reviewed paper, which has been published on the website of the Academy of Management Journal, found that riders systematically adjusted their internal ...

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Science2 Feb 2024

Speech Accessibility Project begins recruiting people who have had a stroke

The Speech Accessibility Project has begun recruiting U.S. and Puerto Rican adults who have had a stroke. Those interested can sign up online. Funded by Big Tech companies Amazon, Apple, Google, Meta, and Microsoft, the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign aims to train voice recognition technologies to understand people with diverse speech patterns and disabilities. The project is also recruiting adults with Parkinson’s disease, Down syndrome, cerebral palsy, and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. “A stroke can cause big changes, including changes to your ability to speak,” said Mark Hasegawa-Johnson, the project’s ...

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Medicine2 Feb 2024

Urgent need to address health equity at intersection of American Heart Month and Black History Month 2024

DALLAS, Feb. 2, 2024 — Black Americans have the highest incidence of cardiac arrest outside of the hospital and are significantly less likely to survive.[1] Cardiac arrest in Black neighborhoods is associated with alarmingly low treatment and survival rates and recent studies have shown lower rates of both bystander CPR and bystander AED use in these neighborhoods. Recognizing the unique intersection of American Heart Month and Black History Month, the American Heart Association, celebrating 100 years of service saving lives, marks the occasion by honoring ...

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Medicine2 Feb 2024

NRG Oncology selects Health Equity Fellows for 2024

PHILADELPHIA, PA – NRG Oncology (NRG), a National Cancer Institute (NCI) National Clinical Trials Network (NCTN) group, recently announced that they have named two health equity fellows as a part of the organization’s Health Equity Fellowship Program. Fellowship awardees include Dr. Onyinye Balogun and Dr. Stephanie Rieder. NRG’s Health Equity Fellowship Program was established by Joan Walker, MD, of the University of Oklahoma and an NRG NCI Community Oncology Research Program (NCORP) Principal Investigator, to train selected ...

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Space2 Feb 2024

Neptune-like exoplanets can be cloudy or clear — new findings suggest the reason why

LAWRENCE — The study of “exoplanets,” the sci-fi-sounding name for all planets in the cosmos beyond our own solar system, is a pretty new field. Mainly, exoplanet researchers like those in the ExoLab at the University of Kansas use data from space-borne telescopes such as the Hubble Space Telescope and Webb Space Telescope. Whenever news headlines offer findings of “Earth-like” planets or planets with the potential to support humanity, they’re talking about exoplanets within our own Milky Way. Jonathan Brande, a doctoral candidate in the ExoLab at the University of Kansas, has just published findings in the open-access ...

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Science2 Feb 2024

nTIDE January 2024 Jobs Report: Despite minor shifts, employment for people with disabilities remains near historic highs

East Hanover, NJ – February 2, 2024 – Labor market indicators showed slight declines over the last two months for both people with and without disabilities, according to today’s National Trends in Disability Employment – semi-monthly update (nTIDE), issued by Kessler Foundation and the University of New Hampshire’s Institute on Disability (UNH-IOD). These declines may reflect the end of seasonal employment and the impact of the Federal Reserve’s anti-inflationary measures aimed at minimizing the risk of recession. ...

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Technology2 Feb 2024

NRL joins Airborne and Satellite Investigation of Asian Air Quality (ASIA-AQ)

WASHINGTON – U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) meteorologists, in partnership with NASA, will join a team of international scientists to participate in the Airborne and Satellite Investigation of Asian Air Quality (ASIA-AQ) experiment beginning on February 2. NRL’s collaborators, David Peterson, Ph.D., meteorologist, Theodore McHardy, Ph.D., American Society for Engineering Education postdoctoral researcher, Nicholas Gapp, Science Applications International Corporation ...

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Medicine2 Feb 2024

New drug could prevent diabetic eye and kidney disease in people with diabetes

New research has shown a new type of inhibitor drug could prevent microvascular diabetic complications, such as diabetic eye and kidney disease. The University of Bristol-led research is published in Cardiovascular Diabetology. Diabetes, a disease which results in uncontrolled blood glucose levels, is estimated to affect one in 11 adults worldwide. Even when managed, this common disease can result in life-altering complications, impacting the small blood vessels of the body, known as the microvasculature. While treatments ...

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Science2 Feb 2024

UT research breaking records, growing impact in Tennessee and beyond

The University of Tennessee, Knoxville, continued to expand its impact and research footprint last year, breaking university records for both research expenditures and sponsored project awards for the second straight year. Since 2019, UT has more than doubled its sponsored project awards, reaching a record $428 million in the fiscal year that ended in June 2023. The university also reported $339 million in research expenditures in fiscal year 2023, an increase of nearly $15 million over fiscal year 2022 and the highest amount in UT history. Research expenditures include internal and external funds that support UT research ...

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Environment2 Feb 2024

Rare 3D fossils show that some early trees had forms unlike any you’ve ever seen

In the fossil record, trees typically are preserved with only their trunks. They don’t usually include any leaves to show what their canopies and overall forms may have looked like. But now, researchers reporting in the journal Current Biology on February 2 describe fossilized trees from New Brunswick, Canada with a surprising and unique three-dimensional crown shape. “The way in which this tree produced hugely long leaves around its spindly trunk, and the sheer number over a short length of trunk, is startling,” says Robert Gastaldo of Colby College in Waterville, Maine. The forms taken by these ...

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Science2 Feb 2024

Fruit flies give further insight into evolution of male genitalia driven by sexual selection

Embargoed until 11am ET USA/4pm GMT UK on Friday 2 February (Current Biology embargo) -With pictures- Fruit flies have provided scientists with new insight into the genetic basis for the rapid evolution of male external genitalia driven by sexual selection. Secondary sexual characteristics such as peacocks’ tails and the male external genitalia of insects are known to be among the fastest evolving animal body parts. It is thought that this is driven by sexual selection including through female choice and the different evolutionary needs of each sex to find the right mate and maximise their fitness. Now scientists at Durham University and Oxford ...

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Medicine2 Feb 2024

Availability of mental telehealth services in the US

About The Study: The findings of this study of 1,404 mental health treatment facilities indicate that there were no differences in the availability of mental telehealth services based on the prospective patient’s clinical condition, perceived race or ethnicity, or sex; however, differences were found at the facility-, county-, and state-level. These findings suggest widespread disparities in who has access to which telehealth services throughout the U.S. Authors: Jonathan Cantor, Ph.D., of the RAND Corporation in Santa Monica, California, is the corresponding author. To access the embargoed study: Visit ...

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Medicine2 Feb 2024

Risk of venous thromboembolic events after surgery for cancer

About The Study: This study including 432,000 patients who underwent major surgery for eight cancer types found an increased rate of venous thromboembolism associated with cancer surgery. The risk persisted for about two to four months postoperatively but varied between cancer types. The increased rate is likely explained by the underlying cancer disease and adjuvant treatments. The results highlight the need for individualized venous thromboembolism risk evaluation and prophylaxis regimens for patients undergoing different surgery for different cancers. Authors: Johan ...

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Medicine2 Feb 2024

Geographic differences in telehealth found among mental health clinics

Telehealth availability for mental health care varies significantly across states -- from less than half of treatment facilities contacted in states like Mississippi and South Carolina to every facility contacted in states like Maine and Oregon, according to a new RAND study. Researchers found there were differences in services offered depending on whether a mental health treatment facility was located in in a rural or metropolitan area. The types of services offered -- and the types of telehealth modalities available -- also varied widely among ...

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