A record-breaking 1268-meter drill core into Earth’s mantle, collected from the Mid-Atlantic Ridge in the North Atlantic, has provided a deep and detailed mineralogical glimpse of the oceanic mantle. The findings reveal new insights into mantle composition, Earth’s deep geology, and the potential biogeochemical conditions involved in the origins of life. Understanding the Earth’s mantle is crucial for comprehending important details of the Earth system, including terrestrial magmatism, crust formation, and the cycling ...

The American College of Cardiology has issued updated guidance on managing patients hospitalized for heart failure (HF) to provide a decision-making pathway that tailors therapy to clinical trajectory to better manage disease. The updated Expert Consensus Decision Pathway incorporates the latest evidence to provide guidance for clinicians to use at the point of care in conjunction with the 2022 ACC/AHA Heart Failure Guideline. Heart failure refers to several conditions that can affect the way the heart works, its structure or both. Over time, heart failure makes ...

Researchers at Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and at the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine used the setting of the man-made Ukrainian Holodomor famine of 1932-1933 to examine the relation between prenatal famine and adult Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). They studied 128,225 Type 2 diabetes cases diagnosed between 2000-2008 among 10,186,016 male and female Ukrainians born between 1930 and 1938. Individuals who were exposed in early gestation to the famine had a more than two-fold likelihood of developing Type 2 diabetes compared to those ...

In brief: Disruption of the functioning of vegetation due to warming can lead to the failure of climate regulating mechanisms for millions of years. Vegetation changes can alter the planet’s climate equilibrium. Geological and climatic history provide insight into the effects of global warming today. Scientists often seek answers to humanity’s most pressing challenges in nature. When it comes to global warming, geological history offers a unique, long-term perspective. Earth’s geological ...

[Vienna, August 7 2024] — The ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine has led to severe humanitarian crises, including widespread food shortages. According to the United Nations World Food Programme, an estimated 11 million Ukrainians—about one-third of the population—were at risk of hunger in 2023. This crisis, exacerbated by supply chain disruptions and extreme weather events, could increase diabetes prevalence not only in Ukraine but globally, argue Peter Klimek and Stefan Thurner from the Complexity Science Hub in a commentary published in the journal Science. Malnutrition during early pregnancy is known to elevate diabetes ...

August 8, 2024—(BRONX NY)—A discovery by a three-member Albert Einstein College of Medicine research team may boost the effectiveness of stem-cell transplants, commonly used for patients with cancer, blood disorders, or autoimmune diseases caused by defective stem cells, which produce all the body’s different blood cells. The findings, made in mice, were published today in the journal Science. “Our research has the potential to improve the success of stem-cell transplants and expand their use,” explained Ulrich Steidl, ...

While seeking to unravel how marine algae create their chemically complex toxins, scientists at UC San Diego’s Scripps Institution of Oceanography have discovered the largest protein yet identified in biology. Uncovering the biological machinery the algae evolved to make its intricate toxin also revealed previously unknown strategies for assembling chemicals, which could unlock the development of new medicines and materials.   Researchers found the protein, which they named PKZILLA-1, while studying how a type of algae called Prymnesium parvum makes its toxin, which is responsible for massive fish kills.  “This is the Mount Everest of proteins,” ...

Voids or pores have usually been viewed as fatal flaws that severely degrade a material's mechanical performance and should be eliminated in manufacturing. However, a research team led by Prof. JIN Haijun from the Institute of Metal Research (IMR) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences has proposed that the presence of voids is not always hazardous. Instead, voids can be beneficial if they are added "properly" to the material. The team demonstrated that a metal with a large number of nanoscale voids shows improved ...

Scientists have discovered the gene responsible for prickles in eggplants, a trait that complicates farming. Using advanced genetic techniques, they identified the Prickly Eggplant (PE) gene on chromosome 6 and pinpointed SmLOG1 as the key factor. CRISPR-Cas9 gene editing confirmed that disabling SmLOG1 eliminates prickles, paving the way for prickle-free eggplant varieties. This breakthrough not only sheds light on prickle development but also promises to streamline eggplant cultivation and harvesting, benefiting the agricultural industry. Eggplants, a staple crop globally, present significant challenges in cultivation and harvesting due to their prickles. These prickles, which serve as ...

People eat either because they are hungry or for pleasure, even in the absence of hunger. While hunger-driven eating is fundamental for survival, pleasure-driven feeding may accelerate the onset of obesity and associated metabolic disorders. A study published in Nature Metabolism reveals neural circuits in the mouse brain that promote hunger-driven feeding and suppress pleasure-driven eating. The findings open new possibilities for developing strategies to combat obesity. “Ideal feeding habits would balance eating for necessity and for pleasure, minimizing the latter,” said co-corresponding author Dr. Yong Xu, ...

“These findings indicate that renalase-1 is a potential antigen for TCR recognition in melanoma and could be considered as a target for immunotherapy.” BUFFALO, NY- August 8, 2024 – A new research paper was published in Oncotarget's Volume 15 on August 5, 2024, entitled, “Chemical complementarity of tumor resident, T-cell receptor CDR3s and renalase-1 correlates with increased melanoma survival.” As mentioned in the Abstract of this study, overexpression of the secretory protein renalase-1 negatively impacts the survival of melanoma and pancreatic cancer patients, while inhibition of renalase-1 signaling drives tumor ...

Key Takeaways -Fusion has the potential to provide abundant clean energy -One to two-year awards range from $100,000 to $500,000 In a continuing effort to forge and fund public-private partnerships to accelerate fusion research, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) today awarded $4.6 million in 17 awards to U.S. businesses via the Innovation Network for Fusion Energy (INFUSE) program.  The goal of INFUSE is to accelerate fusion energy development in the private sector by reducing impediments to collaboration between business ...

Following the Mediterranean diet versus the traditional Western diet might make you feel like you’re under less stress, according to new research conducted by a team from Binghamton University, State University of New York. The findings suggest that people can lower their perception of how much stress they can tolerate by following a Mediterranean diet, said Lina Begdache, associate professor of health and wellness studies. “Stress is recognized to be a precursor to mental distress, and research, including our own, has demonstrated that the Mediterranean diet lowers ...

A recent study investigates the intricate mechanisms of sugar import in developing seeds of Camellia oleifera. By identifying key sugar transporters and analyzing their roles, the research provides significant insights into the molecular regulation of seed development. The findings highlight how these transporters, working alongside sucrose-metabolizing enzymes, facilitate efficient sugar import and partitioning. This study not only advances our understanding of seed development in Camellia oleifera but also suggests potential strategies to enhance seed yield and quality in this important ...

Ann Arbor, August 8, 2024 – Media coverage of shootings by police typically involve urban incidents, giving the impression that the issue is unique to cities. However, national data built from the Gun Violence Archive tells a different story, showing a higher rate of shootings by police in rural and suburban areas than in cities during 2015-2020. A new study in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine, published by Elsevier, reports on the first nationwide, descriptive analysis of where, how often, and under ...

SAN ANTONIO, Aug. 8, 2024 – A drug effective in treating breast cancer shows new promise in addressing breast cancer with brain metastases or recurrent glioblastoma, as reported by results of a prospective window-of-opportunity trial at the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio (UT Health San Antonio). The window trial, in which patients agreed to receive a novel treatment before undergoing surgery, found that the drug Sacituzumab Govitecan was well-tolerated and showed signs of effectiveness for those whose breast cancer had progressed to brain tumors. About half of all women with ...

About The Article: This Viewpoint from the National Center for Health Statistics reports the leading causes of death in the U.S. from 2019 to 2023, including the emergence of COVID-19 and shifts in other top causes as pandemic deaths decreased. Corresponding Author: To contact the corresponding author, Farida Bhuiya Ahmad, MPH, email hhi0@cdc.gov. To access the embargoed study: Visit our For The Media website at this link https://media.jamanetwork.com/ (doi:10.1001/jama.2024.15563) Editor’s Note: Please see the ...

Scientists have made a significant breakthrough in agricultural biotechnology by using CRISPR/Cas9 to edit the potato genome, resulting in plants with increased resistance to both biotic and abiotic stresses. This innovation could lead to a new era of sustainable farming, where crops are naturally fortified against diseases and harsh environmental conditions, ensuring a stable food supply in the face of climate change and other global challenges. The global food system is under increasing pressure due to the compounding effects of climate change, which exacerbates the prevalence of pests and diseases in crops. Potatoes, being the third most important food crop worldwide, are ...

A recent review in the journal Sustainable Microbiology discusses how the use of biocides can promote well-being - but must only be used when there are clear benefits. Biocide use should be restricted to applications where there are tangible benefits but also not unnecessarily restricted where genuine benefits can be demonstrated, the new review suggests. The article ‘Sustainable application of biocides to promote hygiene and minimise antimicrobial resistance’ by scientists at the University of Manchester, UK, is published in Sustainable Microbiology, an Applied Microbiology International publication. Contribution to sustainability “We aimed to present ...

Amazonians are as genetically different from Andeans as Europeans are from East Asians when it comes to genetic variants that affect the response to certain drugs, according to a commentary published August 8 in the journal Cell. These genetic variations can affect what side effects an individual experiences and influence drug dosage recommendations. Taking the genetic diversity within indigenous groups as an example, the scientists highlight the need to address the diversity gap in genomics research. Historically, Native American populations have been viewed as ...

Physicians at an academic medical center completed surveys about climate change-focused educational modules related to health and sustainability in healthcare offered through an existing biannual quality incentive program. Most respondents thought that the modules were relevant or very relevant to their lives and clinical practices, and that their knowledge on these topics increased after completing the modules. Perceptions of the modules’ relevance varied by physicians’ demographics and specialties. An educational program emphasizing the relationship that climate change has with health and health care environmental sustainability was well-received by physicians, according ...

Toronto, ON, May 15, 2024 – Two classes of commonly prescribed oral antibiotics are associated with the greatest risk for severe drug rashes that can lead to emergency department visits, hospitalizations and even death, according to a new study.  Researchers from ICES, Sunnybrook Research Institute and the Department of Medicine at the University of Toronto’s Temerty Faculty of Medicine suggest that prescribers should consider using lower-risk antibiotics for their patients when clinically appropriate.  Serious cutaneous adverse drug reactions (cADRs), or severe drug rash, are ...

About The Study: Commonly prescribed oral antibiotics are associated with an increased risk of serious cutaneous adverse drug reactions compared with macrolides, with sulfonamides and cephalosporins carrying the highest risk. Prescribers should preferentially use lower-risk antibiotics when clinically appropriate. Corresponding Author: To contact the corresponding author, David N. Juurlink, M.D., Ph.D., email david.juurlink@ices.on.ca. To access the embargoed study: Visit our For The Media website at this link https://media.jamanetwork.com/ (doi:10.1001/jama.2024.11437) Editor’s Note: Please ...

About The Study: This cohort study highlights an association between cannabis-related disorder and the development of head and neck cancer in adult patients. Given the limitations of the database, future research should examine the mechanism of this association and analyze dose response with strong controls to further support evidence of cannabis use as a risk factor for head and neck cancers.  Corresponding Author: To contact the corresponding author, Niels C. Kokot, MD, email niels.kokot@med.usc.edu. To ...

About The Study: In this cohort study of Canadian children and adolescents, childhood and adolescent depression symptoms were associated with impaired adult psychosocial functioning. Interventions should aim to screen and monitor children and adolescents for depression to inform policymaking regarding young adult mental health and psychosocial outcomes.  Corresponding Author: To contact the corresponding author, Marilyn N. Ahun, PhD, email marilyn.ahun@mcgill.ca. To access the embargoed study: Visit our For The Media website at this link https://media.jamanetwork.com/ (doi:10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2024.25987) Editor’s ...