Tsukuba, Japan—Hot springs frequently contain water that originates from rocks within the Earth's crust. This can be confirmed through isotopic analysis. Arima Hot Springs, located in Kobe, Hyogo Prefecture, Japan, exhibit unique characteristics, including salinity that is more than twice that of seawater, indicating that their water likely originates from the Philippine Sea Plate. However, a direct evidence supporting this connection is lacking. In this study, researchers confirmed that the isotopic ratios of plate-derived water beneath Arima Hot Springs, as predicted by a numerical model, agreed with those of nonmeteoric water components found ...

Tsukuba, Japan—Online communication tools are intended to bring people closer together. However, they often fail to sufficiently meet the human need for fulfilling social interactions. What is missing is a sense of social presence, that is, a "sense of being present with another person." This sense of social presence can be felt during mediated interactions, such as when using web conferencing tools or playing video games. Researchers at the University of Tsukuba have identified a method for augmenting the sense of social presence in online interactions through the sharing of biosignals. Biosignals such as heart rate can ...

The Academy of Breastfeeding Medicine (ABM) has released a pioneering position statement that provides comprehensive, global recommendations on protecting, promoting, and supporting breastfeeding in emergency situations. The recommendations are the first of their kind specifically tailored for physicians to support breastfed and non-breastfed infants in emergencies and to serve as an invaluable resource for all emergency relief personnel involved in supporting families with infants during disasters. Click here to read the full position statement, published with Breastfeeding Medicine. “Breastfeeding ...

Tsukuba, Japan—Sexual reproduction, a common mode of reproduction among numerous species, involves gametogenesis in which offspring are produced through fertilization, conjugation, or mating. In plants and animals, eggs and sperm differentiate from germ cells to form gametes. However, in budding yeast, spores are produced within diploid cells. During this process, de novo membrane structures form within the cytosol, encapsulating the meiotic haploid nuclei to produce spores. Despite this knowledge, the precise mechanism underlying the formation of these nascent membrane structures remains poorly understood. To ...

A review paper by scientists at the Indiana University Bloomington summarized recent engineering efforts in developing various sensors and devices for addressing challenges in the personalized treatment of pain. The new review paper, published on 13 Sept in the journal Cyborg and Bionic Systems, critically examines the role of sensors and devices guided by artificial intelligence (AI) in the field of personalized pain medicine, highlighting their transformative impact on treatment outcomes and patient quality of life. Pain, a complex and subjective experience, ...

Kombucha is a fizzy, tangy drink made by fermenting tea. But brewers are now fermenting other plant-based drinks to explore nutritional properties and flavors. Researchers in ACS Agricultural Science & Technology compared the biochemistry and flavor of kombucha with brews made from apple and passion fruit juices. They found that the apple beverage contained high levels of bioactive compounds called flavonoids and ranked highly among taste testers, signaling its promise as a kombucha alternative. To make kombucha, brewers ferment sweetened tea with a spongy disk of microbes known as a SCOBY, or symbiotic culture of bacteria and yeast. The ...

A new PeerJ Life & Environment study has revealed that sloths, the famously slow-moving creatures of Central and South America, may face existential threats due to climate change. The research, conducted by scientists studying the metabolic response of sloths to rising temperatures, suggests that the energy limitations of these animals could make survival untenable by the end of the century, particularly for high-altitude populations. The study, titled "Sloth Metabolism May Make Survival Untenable Under Climate Change Scenarios," investigates how two-fingered sloths (Choloepus hoffmanni), living in both highland and lowland regions, ...

A new study has mapped out the gravitational “basins of attraction” in the local Universe, offering fresh insights into the large-scale cosmic structures that shape the movement of galaxies. Using advanced data from the Cosmicflows-4 compilation of distances and velocities of roughly 56,000 galaxies, the international research team applied cutting-edge algorithms to identify regions where gravity dominates, such as the Sloan Great Wall and the Shapley Supercluster. This research suggests that our Milky Way most probably resides within the larger Shapley basin, shifting ...

New Stanford-led research reveals how water systems, from desalination plants to wastewater treatment facilities, could help make renewable energy more affordable and dependable. The study, published Sept. 27 in Nature Water, presents a framework to measure how water systems can adjust their energy use to help balance power grid supply and demand. “If we’re going to reach net zero, we need demand-side energy solutions, and water systems represent a largely untapped resource,” said study lead author Akshay Rao, an environmental engineering PhD student in the Stanford School of Engineering. ...

It is widely recognized that finance is one of the critical enablers of accelerating climate action. However, renewable energy deployment (particularly in developing countries) requires more financing than fossil fuel-based alternatives due to a combination of factors, such as higher upfront investment costs. This means that finance itself can become a barrier to mitigation investment, which is particularly problematic in the context of energy justice—making renewable energy more widely accessible in low-income countries and communities.  A new international research effort led by CMCC scientists tackles this issue ...

Orbital angular momentum monopoles have been the subject of great theoretical interest as they offer major practical advantages for the emerging field of orbitronics, a potential energy-efficient alternative to traditional electronics. Now, through a combination of robust theory and experiments at the Swiss Light Source SLS at Paul Scherrer Institute PSI, their existence has been demonstrated. The discovery is published in the journal Nature Physics. Whereas electronics uses the charge of the electron to transfer information, technology ...

ORLANDO, Fla.-- The only firearm restrictions found to be effective in reducing mass shootings involving children were laws banning the sale of firearms equipped with a large-capacity magazines, according to a new analysis presented during the American Academy of Pediatrics 2024 National Conference and Exhibition. Researchers will present, “Do State Gun Laws Affect Pediatric Mass Shootings? A 2009 - 2020 Year Analysis,” during the AAP conference held at Orlando Convention Center Sept. 27-Oct. ...

ORLANDO, Fla.— Some babies are born with abnormalities involving the structure of the heart, known as congenital heart disease (CHD). While many studies have shown that more babies with congenital heart disease are surviving past their first birthday as deaths from CHD have significantly decreased in the United States, a research abstract found that race impacts these survival rates. Black infants with congenital heart disease are 40% more likely to die in the first year of life than white infants with congenital heart disease, according to research presented during the American Academy of Pediatrics 2024 National Conference & Exhibition at the Orange County Convention ...

ORLANDO, Fla.— A resurgence of youth seeking a high from “chroming” -- the act of inhaling toxic fumes from household items such as nail polish or permanent markers—could be due to videos featuring the practice on the popular social media platform, TikTok, according to new research presented during the American Academy of Pediatrics 2024 National Conference & Exhibition. The abstract, “Chroming Crisis: An Analysis of Chroming Related Content on TikTok,” examines chroming-related content on TikTok in order to ...

ORLANDO, Fla.— Children who are injured by firearms require significantly more inpatient care, have higher medical complication rates and face a greater risk of death than children with other forms of trauma, according to research presented during the American Academy of Pediatrics 2024 National Conference & Exhibition in Orlando, FL. The abstract, “Pediatric Firearm Injuries: Unveiling the Unmatched Healthcare Burden and Costs,” to be presented during the conference Sept. 27-Oct. 1 at the Orange County Convention Center, evaluated data from patients ages 21 and younger between 2017 and 2020. Using data provided by the National ...

ORLANDO, Fla.—Black and LatinX teenagers enrolled in an 8-week racial justice activism program reported fewer symptoms of depression and anxiety, according to research presented during the American Academy of Pediatrics 2024 National Conference & Exhibition in Orlando, FL. The research, “Our Voices Matter Pilot Study: A Racial Justice Activism Intervention to Reduce Depression in Adolescents,” will be presented during the conference at the Orange County Convention Center Sept. 27-Oct. 1. The study followed seven Black and LatinX teens ...

ORLANDO, Fla.— Firearms are the leading cause of death in children in the United States and are linked to over half of youth suicides. Secure storage of firearms (stored locked, unloaded, and separate from the ammunition) can significantly decrease the rates of child and adolescent firearm-related suicides. According to research presented during the American Academy of Pediatrics 2024 National Conference & Exhibition at the Orange County Convention Center from Sept. 27-Oct. 1, “Caregiver Perspectives on Firearm Safety Guidance for Children Hospitalized for Suicidal Ideation ...

ORLANDO, Fla.—Children born to greater socioeconomic backgrounds are significantly more likely to be prescribed opioids, according to research presented during the American Academy of Pediatrics 2024 National Conference & Exhibition at the Orange County Convention Center from Sept. 27-Oct. 1.  The abstract, “Overprescription of Opioids in White Children from Higher Socioeconomic Backgrounds: Disparities in Opioid Utilization for Pediatric Supracondylar Humerus Fractures,” looked at the rates in opioid prescriptions following childhood ...

ORLANDO, Fla.— Children with disabilities in foster care are extremely vulnerable, facing risks of maltreatment and removal from their homes and greater need for healthcare services. New research suggests that children with specific disabilities in foster care are less likely to find a permanent home and have a higher risk of mortality while in care compared to those without disabilities. This research, “The Effect of Initial Disability on Permanency Outcomes of Children in Foster Care,” presented during the American Academy of ...

ORLANDO, Fla.—Infants who were exclusively fed breast milk during their hospitalization at birth were 22% less likely to develop asthma in early childhood, according to research presented during the American Academy of Pediatrics 2024 National Conference & Exhibition in Orlando. The abstract, “Association Between Hospital Feeding Patterns and Childhood Asthma,” found lower rates of asthma in the infants born at the Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center who were exclusively fed breast milk even after adjusting ...

ORLANDO, Fla.—Water-absorbing beads have become increasingly hazardous to children over the past 10 years, as children who swallow the beads can experience life-threatening problems such as bowel obstruction. In new research presented during the American Academy of Pediatrics 2024 National Conference & Exhibition, researchers reveal the results of an experiment in which they grew the beads to different sizes and tested different child-safe liquids to see which ones could shrink the beads after they had expanded. The abstract, “The Hidden Dangers: Superabsorbent Polymer (SAP) Beads as an Increasing Cause of Bowel Obstruction in Children,” will be presented ...

ORLANDO, Fla.—A study found fewer than one in four Colorado residents living with children at home recognized suicide as the leading cause of firearm death and less than half thought suicide can be prevented, according to research presented during the American Academy of Pediatrics 2024 National Conference & Exhibition. The study will be published online in the journal Pediatrics Sept. 27, the first day of the conference at the AAP National Conference and Exhibition that runs from Sept. 27-Oct. 1 at the Orange County Convention Center. While ...

  ORLANDO, Fla. — While violence prevention education has increased in U.S. schools, only 1 in 10 schools today require violence prevention discussions in class, according to research presented during the American Academy of Pediatrics 2024 National Conference & Exhibition at the Orange County Convention Center. Chloe Gao, MD/PhD Candidate and lead research author on “Implementation of Educational Programming and Policies to Prevent Bullying, Sexual Harassment, and Violence in US Schools, 2008-2020,” studied data collected by the Centers ...

ORLANDO, Fla.— About 7% of more than 1,000 teens who disclosed sexual abuse at a California hospital reported that social media was used to facilitate the assault, according to research presented during the American Academy of Pediatrics 2024 National Conference & Exhibition. The retrospective study, “Social Media Facilitated Sexual Assault in Children,” found that, when accounting only for victims whose perpetrators were not related to them, an even higher percentage – 12%-- reported that social ...

ORLANDO, Fla.— Unintentional injuries like falls, drownings and poisonings are the leading cause of death in patients ages 1-4, and a significant portion of these deaths are linked to unintentional ingestions—such as swallowing a drug or poison. New research shows racial and socioeconomic disparities exist in the emergency management of unintentional ingestions in children.   Black patients younger than age 6 with the diagnosis of unintentional ingestion were more likely than white children to have a social work consult, Children Services Bureau referral, and urine drug screen, according ...