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Social Science 2024-09-03

Communication helps parent relationships with new college students but has limits

PULLMAN, Wash. -- When young adults first go off to college, more communication with parents generally leads to better relationships, but parents should avoid always initiating it, according to a study led by Washington State University researchers. In a paper published in the journal Emerging Adulthood, WSU Assistant Professor Jennifer Duckworth and co-authors found that phone, text, video or in-person communication made first-year students feel better about the relationship with their parents. Students also felt better about the relationship when parents offered support or advice, and when they discussed important topics, such as studying and friendships. However, researchers found ...
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Environment 2024-09-03

Natural selection may create inter-species exploitation

A modeling study suggests that one-sided interspecies cooperation can spontaneously emerge and persist over time, despite only one species benefitting. Evolutionary game theory, and the prisoner’s dilemma in particular, are often used to model the evolution of cooperation within a single species. In the prisoner’s dilemma, both parties benefit by cooperating, but the greatest benefit is earned by a defector who plays with a cooperator. The temptation to cheat tends to push players towards defection, ...
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Targeted cancer therapies: Getting radioactive atoms to accumulate in tumors
Medicine 2024-09-03

Targeted cancer therapies: Getting radioactive atoms to accumulate in tumors

Prostate cancer is the second most common cancer among men worldwide, following lung cancer. In the United States alone, nearly 300,000 new cases are diagnosed annually. While reducing testosterone and other male hormones can be an effective treatment for prostate cancer, this approach becomes ineffective once the disease progresses to metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC). At this stage, the cancer advances quickly and becomes resistant to conventional hormonal therapies and chemotherapy.   A clever strategy for fighting mCRPC is to exploit the ...
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Gigantic asteroid impact shifted the axis of Solar System's biggest moon
Environment 2024-09-03

Gigantic asteroid impact shifted the axis of Solar System's biggest moon

Around 4 billion years ago, an asteroid hit the Jupiter moon Ganymede. Now, a Kobe University researcher realized that the Solar System's biggest moon's axis has shifted as a result of the impact, which confirmed that the asteroid was around 20 times larger than the one that ended the age of the dinosaurs on Earth, and caused one of the biggest impacts with clear traces in the Solar System. Ganymede is the largest moon in the Solar System, bigger even than the planet Mercury, and is also interesting for the liquid water oceans beneath its icy surface. Like the Earth’s moon, it is tidally locked, meaning that it always shows the ...
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Finger wrap uses sweat to provide health monitoring at your fingertips—literally
Medicine 2024-09-03

Finger wrap uses sweat to provide health monitoring at your fingertips—literally

A sweat-powered wearable has the potential to make continuous, personalized health monitoring as effortless as wearing a Band-Aid. Engineers at the University of California San Diego have developed an electronic finger wrap that monitors vital chemical levels—such as glucose, vitamins, and even drugs—present in the same fingertip sweat from which it derives its energy. The advance was published Sept. 3 in Nature Electronics by the research group of Joseph Wang, a professor in the Aiiso Yufeng Li Family Department of Chemical and Nano Engineering ...
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Large sharks may be hunting each other – and scientists know because of a swallowed tracking tag
Science 2024-09-03

Large sharks may be hunting each other – and scientists know because of a swallowed tracking tag

Who killed the pregnant porbeagle? In a marine science version of the game Cluedo, researchers from the US have now accused a larger shark, with its deciduous triangular teeth, in the open sea southwest of Bermuda. This scientific whodunnit is published in Frontiers in Marine Science. “This is the first documented predation event of a porbeagle shark anywhere in the world,” said lead author Dr Brooke Anderson, a former graduate student at Arizona State University. “In one event, the population not only lost a reproductive female that could contribute to population growth, but it also lost all her developing ...
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Can’t stop belching? Dietary habits or disease could be the reason
Medicine 2024-09-03

Can’t stop belching? Dietary habits or disease could be the reason

Belching is a common bodily function, but when it escalates to a level that interferes with daily life, it is defined as belching disorders. International surveys have reported that approximately 1% of adults have belching disorders, but the percentage in Japan and the factors involved often elude medical professionals. To examine the relationship between the rate of belching disorders, comorbidities, and lifestyles in Japan, a research team led by Professor Yasuhiro Fujiwara of Osaka Metropolitan University’s Graduate School of Medicine ...
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Exploring peptide clumping for improved drug and material solutions
Medicine 2024-09-03

Exploring peptide clumping for improved drug and material solutions

Scientists from China have investigated how short peptide chains aggregate together in order to deepen our understanding of the process, which is crucial for drug stability and material development. Their study, published in JACS Au, provides valuable insights into how short proteins called peptides interact, fold, and function. These findings have significant implications for medicine, material science, and biotechnology. Peptides are short chains of amino acids that play essential roles in the body by building structures, speeding up chemical reactions, and supporting our immune system. The specific function of a protein is determined by how its amino acids interact with each other and ...
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Medicine 2024-09-03

Young adults let down by ‘postcode lottery’ for ADHD treatment - national survey

A national survey conducted as part of University of Exeter research has found huge variation in treatment for ADHD, highlighting the struggle many young adults face once they turn 18. Researchers have warned that the current system is failing many young adults as they transition from children’s to adult’s services - suddenly finding themselves unable to access treatment because services do not link up effectively. More than 750 people from across the country – including commissioners, healthcare professionals working ...
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Science 2024-09-02

False-positive mammography result may discourage women from subsequent screening

Embargoed for release until 5:00 p.m. ET on Monday 2 September 2024       Annals of Internal Medicine Tip Sheet        @Annalsofim       Below please find summaries of new articles that will be published in the next issue of Annals of Internal Medicine. The summaries are not intended to substitute for the full articles as a source of information. This information is under strict embargo and by taking it into possession, media representatives are committing to the terms of the embargo not only on their own behalf, but also on behalf of the organization they represent.       ----------------------------       1. ...
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Science 2024-09-02

False-positive mammograms discourage some women from future screenings

Early detection of breast cancer through mammography screening continues to save lives. However, abnormal findings on mammograms can lead to women being recalled for additional imaging and biopsies, many of which turn out to be “false positives,” meaning they do not result in a cancer diagnosis. False positives can also have financial implications for patients and cause significant emotional anxiety. A major, new study led by the UC Davis Comprehensive Cancer Center has found that women who received a false-positive result that required additional imaging or biopsy were less likely to return ...
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The nervous system’s matchmaker
Science 2024-09-02

The nervous system’s matchmaker

When you ask a rideshare app to find you a car, the company’s computers get to work. They know you want to reach your destination quickly. They know you’re not the only user who needs a ride. And they know drivers want to minimize idle time by picking up someone nearby. The computer’s job, says Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Associate Professor Saket Navlakha, is to pair drivers with riders in a way that maximizes everyone’s happiness. Computer scientists like Navlakha call this bipartite matching. It’s the same task handled by systems pairing organ donors with transplant candidates, medical students with residency ...
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Open Wide: Human Mouth Bacteria Reproduce through Rare Form of Cell Division
Medicine 2024-09-02

Open Wide: Human Mouth Bacteria Reproduce through Rare Form of Cell Division

By Emily Greenhalgh One of the most diverse ecosystems on the planet is closer than you think — right inside your mouth. Your mouth is a thriving ecosystem of more than 500 different species of bacteria living in distinct, structured communities called biofilms. Nearly all of these bacteria grow by splitting [or dividing] into two, with one mother cell giving rise to two daughter cells. New research from the Marine Biological Laboratory (MBL) and ADA Forsyth uncovered an extraordinary mechanism of cell division in Corynebacterium matruchotii, one of the most common bacteria living in dental plaque. ...
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KIMM develops wheel that alters stiffness in real time based on situation
Science 2024-09-02

KIMM develops wheel that alters stiffness in real time based on situation

A new technology for wheels and mobile systems, necessary for overcoming various obstacles in daily life such as stairs or rocks by adjusting the stiffness of the wheel in real time, has been developed for the first time in the world. This noble technology is anticipated to find wide applications in various moving vehicles equipped with wheels, where overcoming terrain obstacles is essential. The Korea Institute of Machinery and Materials (President Seog-Hyeon Ryu, hereinafter referred to as KIMM), an institute under the jurisdiction of the ...
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Medicine 2024-09-02

Blood stem cell breakthrough could transform bone marrow transplants

Melbourne researchers have made a world first breakthrough into creating blood stem cells that closely resemble those in the human body. And the discovery could soon lead to personalised treatments for children with leukaemia and bone marrow failure disorders. The research, led by Murdoch Children’s Research Institute (MCRI) and published in Nature Biotechnology, has  overcome a major hurdle for producing human blood stem cells, which can create red cells, white blood cells and platelets, that closely match those in the human embryo. MCRI Associate Professor Elizabeth Ng said the team had made a significant discovery in human blood stem ...
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Medicine 2024-09-02

Rare genetic variants linked to bicuspid aortic valve disease in young adults identified by UTHealth Houston researchers

Genetic variants linked to a rare form of bicuspid aortic valve disease that affects young adults and can lead to dangerous and potentially life-threatening aortic complications have been identified by researchers at UTHealth Houston. The study was published today in the American Journal of Human Genetics. “We previously found that young individuals who present due to early onset thoracic aortic dissections are more likely to have bicuspid aortic valves and more likely to have rare variants in bicuspid aortic valve-associated genes,” said Siddharth Prakash, MD, PhD, co-principal investigator of the study and associate professor of medical ...
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Locomotion control of cyborg insects by charge-balanced biphasic electrical stimulation
Energy 2024-09-02

Locomotion control of cyborg insects by charge-balanced biphasic electrical stimulation

A research paper by scientists at Beijing Institute of Technology proposed a universal system for remote signal output control using infrared signals. The new research paper, published on Jul. 05 in the journal Cyborg and Bionic Systems, proposed a system that integrates high-precision digital-to-analog converters capable of generating customized waveform electrical stimulation signals within defined ranges. This enhances the accuracy of locomotion control in cyborg insects while maintaining real-time control and dynamic parameter adjustment. The proposed system is verified by experiments. The integration of electronic stimulation devices with insects in ...
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Science 2024-09-02

Depressed adolescents twice as likely to vape

A study on vaping behaviour among Australian high school students has found those who reported severe depressive symptoms were over twice as likely to have tried e-cigarettes, compared to those reporting no depressive symptoms. Data showed overall higher e-cigarette use among those with poorer mental health, including severe depressive symptoms, moderate and high stress, and low wellbeing.  The findings show a critical need for effective mental health support at the same time as vaping prevention during early adolescence -- when these issues first emerge. The researchers surveyed over ...
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Helping public decision-making with AI-based policy intelligence system
Technology 2024-09-02

Helping public decision-making with AI-based policy intelligence system

Korean researchers are pushing for a new AI-based policy intelligence research project that can assist the public decision-making and policy execution of domestic and foreign local governments. Electronics and Communications Research Institute (ETRI) announced on July 1 that they have decided to establish a cooperative system with the International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis (IIASA)1) to conduct further research regarding the development of an AI policy intelligence system that can assist public policy decision-making. 1) International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis (IIASA): An independent international research institute located ...
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Medicine 2024-09-02

Pulmonary vein isolation vs sham intervention in symptomatic atrial fibrillation

About The Study: Pulmonary vein isolation resulted in a statistically significant and clinically important decrease in atrial fibrillation burden at 6 months, with substantial improvements in symptoms and quality of life, compared with a sham procedure. Corresponding Authors: To contact the corresponding authors, email Rick A. Veasey, MD, (rick.veasey@nhs.net) and Rajdip Dulai, MBBS, (rajdip.dulai.21@ucl.ac.uk) To access the embargoed study: Visit our For The Media website at this link https://media.jamanetwork.com/ (doi:10.1001/jama.2024.17921) Editor’s ...
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Medicine 2024-09-02

Lesion-level effects of LDL-C–lowering therapy in patients with acute myocardial infarction

About The Study: At the lesion level, very intensive lipid-lowering therapy induced substantially greater percent atheroma volume regression than described in previous vessel-level analyses. Compared with statin therapy alone, alirocumab treatment was associated with greater enlargement of the lesion minimum lumen area and more frequent transition of presumably high-risk plaque phenotypes into more stable, less lipid-rich plaque phenotypes.  Corresponding Author: To contact the corresponding author, Lorenz ...
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Medicine 2024-09-02

How cells control gene expression by cleaning up their mistakes

Alternative splicing is a genetic process where different segments of genes are removed, and the remaining pieces are joined together during transcription to messenger RNA (mRNA). This mechanism increases the diversity of proteins that can be generated from genes, by assembling sections of genetic code into different combinations. This is believed to enhance biological complexity by allowing genes to produce different versions of proteins, or protein isoforms, for many different uses. New research from the University of Chicago suggests that alternative splicing may have an even greater influence on biology than just by creating new protein isoforms. The ...
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Environment 2024-09-02

Global South cities lack cooling green spaces

Cities in the Global South are more exposed to extreme heat because they lack cooling green spaces, new research shows. The study found that Global South cities have just 70% of the “cooling capacity” provided by urban greenery in the Global North. With temperatures rising, combined with the “urban heat island” effects that make cities hotter than rural areas, heat-related illness and death in cities are becoming more common. Urban green spaces can help reduce this risk, cooling down outdoor environments and providing vital refuges. The research – led by an international team including Nanjing, Exeter, Aarhus and North Carolina State universities – ...
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The risk of global water scarcity is greater when accounting for the origin of rain.
Science 2024-09-02

The risk of global water scarcity is greater when accounting for the origin of rain.

Securing the world's water supply is one of the greatest challenges of our time. Research at Stockholm University is now presenting an alternative method for quantifying the global risk of water scarcity. Results indicate higher risks to water supply than previously expected if accounting for the environmental conditions and governability where rain is produced. The common idea of global water supply is rain falling on the earth's surface and then stored in aquifers, lakes, and rivers. This idea is usually used to assess water security and the risk of water scarcity. However, a new study published in Nature Water shows how the water risks are dependent on governance ...
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Medicine 2024-09-02

New pharmaceutically active substances from billions of newly combined molecules

Nowadays, there’s lots of buzz about spectacular new medical treatments such as personalised cancer therapy with modified immune cells or antibodies. Such treatments, however, are very complex and expensive and so find only limited application. Most medical therapies are still based on small chemical compounds that can be produced in large quantities and thus at low cost. Billions of new molecules in just a few weeks The bottleneck in the development of new molecular therapies is the limited number of new active ...
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