Chemists produce new-to-nature enzyme containing boron
Chemists created an enzyme with boronic acid at its reactive center. This approach can produce more selective reactions with boron, and allows the use of directed evolution to improve its catalytic power.
Wed, 08 May 2024 17:12:13 EDT
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/05/240508171213.htm
Neuropathy very common, underdiagnosed
Neuropathy, the nerve damage that causes pain and numbness in the feet and hands and can eventually lead to falls, infection and even amputation, is very common and underdiagnosed, according to a new study.
Wed, 08 May 2024 16:13:16 EDT
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/05/240508161316.htm
New insight into genesis of spina bifida
Spina bifida is the most common structural disorder of the human nervous system. The causes are largely unknown, but a new study points to a link involving a chromosomal microdeletion -- and also underscores the value of folic acid as a preventive measure.
Wed, 08 May 2024 14:07:29 EDT
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/05/240508140729.htm
'Wraparound' implants represent new approach to treating spinal cord injuries
A tiny, flexible electronic device that wraps around the spinal cord could represent a new approach to the treatment of spinal injuries, which can cause profound disability and paralysis. A team of engineers, neuroscientists and surgeons developed the devices and used them to record the nerve signals going back and forth between the brain and the spinal cord. Unlike current approaches, the new devices can record 360-degree information, giving a complete picture of spinal cord activity.
Wed, 08 May 2024 14:06:47 EDT
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/05/240508140647.htm
Strengthening CAR-T therapy to work against solid tumors
Researchers have shown that a breakthrough therapy for treating blood cancers can be adapted to treat solid tumors -- an advance that could transform cancer treatment. The promising findings involve CAR-T cell therapy, which supercharges the immune system to identify and attack cancer cells.
Wed, 08 May 2024 14:06:44 EDT
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/05/240508140644.htm
Exercise, new drug class recommended for management of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy
Experts released a new clinical guideline for effectively managing individuals diagnosed with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM). The guideline reiterates the importance of collaborative decision-making with patients who have HCM and provides updated recommendations for the most effective treatment pathways for adult and pediatric patients.
Wed, 08 May 2024 14:06:41 EDT
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/05/240508140641.htm
Heavy snowfall and rain may contribute to some earthquakes
Episodes of heavy snowfall and rain likely contributed to a swarm of earthquakes over the past several years in northern Japan, researchers find. Their study shows climate conditions could initiate some earthquakes.
Wed, 08 May 2024 14:06:38 EDT
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/05/240508140638.htm
Human activity is making it harder for scientists to interpret oceans' past
New research shows human activity is significantly altering the ways in which marine organisms are preserved, with lasting effects that can both improve and impair the fossil record.
Wed, 08 May 2024 13:53:47 EDT
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/05/240508135347.htm
Teens who view their homes as more chaotic than their siblings have poorer mental health in adulthood
Adolescents who view their households as more unstructured, disorganized, or hectic than their siblings develop more mental health and behavioral problems in early adulthood, according to new research.
Wed, 08 May 2024 13:53:44 EDT
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/05/240508135344.htm
New study finds AI-generated empathy has its limits
Conversational agents (CAs) such as Alexa and Siri are designed to answer questions, offer suggestions -- and even display empathy. However, new research finds they do poorly compared to humans when interpreting and exploring a user's experience.
Wed, 08 May 2024 12:12:09 EDT
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/05/240508121209.htm
Climate resilience strategies in urban, rural areas
Local decision-makers looking for ways to reduce the impact of heat waves on their communities have a valuable new capability at their disposal: a new study on vegetation resilience. Scientists completed a study of how well vegetation survived extreme heat events in both urban and rural communities across the country in recent years. The analysis informs pathways for climate mitigation, including ways to reduce the effect of urban heat islands.
Wed, 08 May 2024 12:12:06 EDT
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/05/240508121206.htm
Pore pressure diffusion led to microseismicity at Illinois basin carbon sequestration site
Pore pressure diffusion generated by carbon dioxide injected underground at a carbon storage site in the Illinois Basin is the likely cause of hundreds of microearthquakes that took place at the site between 2011 and 2012, according to a new analysis.
Wed, 08 May 2024 12:12:03 EDT
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/05/240508121203.htm
Possible atmosphere surrounding rocky exoplanet
Researchers may have detected atmospheric gases surrounding 55 Cancri e, a hot rocky exoplanet 41 light-years from Earth. This is the best evidence to date for the existence of any rocky planet atmosphere outside our solar system.
Wed, 08 May 2024 12:11:27 EDT
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/05/240508121127.htm
Rock steady: Study reveals new mechanism to explain how continents stabilized
Ancient, expansive tracts of continental crust called cratons have helped keep Earth's continents stable for billions of years, even as landmasses shift, mountains rise and oceans form. A new mechanism may explain how the cratons formed some 3 billion years ago, an enduring question in the study of Earth's history.
Wed, 08 May 2024 11:31:36 EDT
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/05/240508113136.htm
New guidelines for depression care emphasize patient-centred approach
Psychiatrists and mental health professionals have a new standard for managing major depression, thanks to refreshed clinical guidelines.
Wed, 08 May 2024 11:31:32 EDT
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/05/240508113132.htm
Iron fingerprints in nearby active galaxy
After starting science operations in February, Japan-led XRISM (X-ray Imaging and Spectroscopy Mission) studied the monster black hole at the center of galaxy NGC 4151.
Wed, 08 May 2024 11:31:26 EDT
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/05/240508113126.htm
Researchers say future is bright for treating substance abuse through mobile health technologies
Despite the high prevalence of substance abuse and its often devastating outcomes, especially among disadvantaged populations, few Americans receive treatment for substance use disorders. However, the rise of mobile health technologies can make treatments more accessible.
Wed, 08 May 2024 11:31:20 EDT
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/05/240508113120.htm
Damaging impact of heat waves on vital organs
Researchers have found evidence of the molecular causes of the damaging impact heat stress causes on the gut, liver and brain in the elderly. These findings point to the potential of developing precise prognostic and therapeutic interventions.
Wed, 08 May 2024 11:31:14 EDT
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/05/240508113114.htm
New record holder for smallest dispersers of ingested seeds: Woodlice
Even bugs as small as woodlice can disperse seeds they eat, setting a new record for smallest animal recorded to do so. The discovery underscores the crucial yet often overlooked role that small invertebrates play in ecosystems.
Wed, 08 May 2024 11:31:11 EDT
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/05/240508113111.htm
An adjuvant made in yeast could lower vaccine cost and boost availability
Adjuvants make vaccines more effective, though one of the best is an expensive extract from the soap bark tree. To lower the cost and avoid the laborious extraction process from bark, synthetic biologists introduced 38 separate genes into yeast to recreate the synthesis of the active molecule, a complex chemical, QS-21, that has a terpene core and numerous sugars. This may be the longest biosynthetic pathway ever inserted into yeast.
Wed, 08 May 2024 11:31:07 EDT
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/05/240508113107.htm
Disorder improves battery life
What determines the cycle life of batteries? And, more importantly, how can we extend it? An international research team has discovered that local disorder in the oxide cathode material increases the number of times Li-ion batteries can be charged and discharged.
Wed, 08 May 2024 11:31:04 EDT
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/05/240508113104.htm
New target for potential leukemia therapy
Investigators discovered that a subset of myeloid and lymphoid leukemias depend on a molecular complex called PI3Kgamma for survival. The study provides both mechanistic and preclinical evidence supporting the rapid initiation of clinical trials for patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) to test an existing medicine that inhibits the complex, called eganelisib, both alone and in combination with the most used AML chemotherapy, cytarabine.
Wed, 08 May 2024 11:31:01 EDT
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/05/240508113101.htm
Faster approach for starting extended-release naltrexone to treat opioid use disorder shown effective
Starting people with opioid use disorder on extended-release, injectable naltrexone (XR-naltrexone) within five to seven days of seeking treatment is more effective than the standard treatment method of starting within 10-15 days, but requires closer medical supervision, according to results from a clinical trial. The findings suggest that this rapid treatment protocol could make XR-naltrexone more viable as a treatment option for opioid use disorder, which continues to take lives at an alarming rate.
Wed, 08 May 2024 11:30:58 EDT
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/05/240508113058.htm
More than 321,000 U.S. children lost a parent to drug overdose from 2011 to 2021
An estimated 321,566 children in the United States lost a parent to drug overdose from 2011 to 2021, according to a new study. The rate of children who experienced this loss more than doubled during this period, from approximately 27 to 63 children per 100,000. The highest number of affected children were those with non-Hispanic white parents, but communities of color and tribal communities were disproportionately affected.
Wed, 08 May 2024 11:30:49 EDT
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/05/240508113049.htm
Stilling the quantum dance of atoms
Researchers have discovered a way to stop the quantum dance of atoms 'seen' by electrons in carbon-based organic molecules. This development will help improve the performance of light emitting molecules used in displays and bio-medical imaging.
Wed, 08 May 2024 11:27:36 EDT
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/05/240508112736.htm
Scientists find ancient, endangered lamprey fish in Queensland, 1400 km north of its previous known range
Scientists have confirmed the identity of an unusual, ancient and Endangered species of fish that is living in the coastal rivers of Queensland, about 1400 km north of where it was previously known to live.
Wed, 08 May 2024 09:48:58 EDT
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/05/240508094858.htm
Acceptance of animals in urban environments
How do city residents feel about animals in their immediate surroundings? A recent study shows how different the acceptance of various wild animals in urban areas is. Important factors are the places where the animals are found and their level of popularity -- squirrels and ladybugs come out on top here. The results have important implications for urban planning and nature conservation.
Wed, 08 May 2024 09:37:30 EDT
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/05/240508093730.htm
Pressure to be 'perfect' causing burnout for parents, mental health concerns for their children
Is the status of 'perfect parent' attainable? Researchers leading a national dialogue about parental burnout say 'no,' and a new study finds that pressure to try to be 'perfect' leads to unhealthy impacts on both parents and their children.
Wed, 08 May 2024 09:37:26 EDT
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/05/240508093726.htm
Limited adaptability makes freshwater bacteria vulnerable to climate change
Freshwater bacteria with small genomes frequently undergo prolonged periods of adaptive stagnation. Based on genomic analyses of samples from European lakes, researchers uncovered specific evolutionary strategies that shape these bacteria's lifestyles. Understanding the evolutionary dynamics of aquatic microbial communities is key to safeguarding ecosystem services.
Wed, 08 May 2024 09:37:23 EDT
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/05/240508093723.htm
Gene linked to learning difficulties has direct impact on learning and memory
A gene previously linked to intellectual disability has been found to regulate learning and memory in mice.
Wed, 08 May 2024 09:37:20 EDT
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/05/240508093720.htm
'Mathematical microscope' reveals novel, energy-efficient mechanism of working memory that works even during sleep
Researchers have discovered a mechanism that creates memories while reducing metabolic cost, even during sleep. This efficient memory occurs in a part of the brain that is crucial for learning and memory, and where Alzheimer's disease begins.
Wed, 08 May 2024 09:37:17 EDT
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/05/240508093717.htm
THC lingers in breastmilk with no clear peak point
When breastfeeding mothers in a recent study used cannabis, its psychoactive component THC showed up in the milk they produced. The research also found that, unlike alcohol, when THC was detected in milk there was no consistent time when its concentration peaked and started to decline. Importantly, the researchers discovered that the amount of THC they detected in milk was low -- they estimated that infants received an average of 0.07 mg of THC per day. For comparison, a common low-dose edible contains 2 mg of THC. The research team stressed that it is unknown whether this amount has any impact on the infant.
Wed, 08 May 2024 09:37:02 EDT
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/05/240508093702.htm
Swarms of miniature robots clean up microplastics and microbes, simultaneously
When old food packaging, discarded children's toys and other mismanaged plastic waste break down into microplastics, they become even harder to clean up from oceans and waterways. These tiny bits of plastic also attract bacteria, including those that cause disease. Researchers describe swarms of microscale robots (microrobots) that captured bits of plastic and bacteria from water. Afterward, the bots were decontaminated and reused.
Wed, 08 May 2024 09:36:59 EDT
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/05/240508093659.htm
Why is breaking down plant material for biofuels so slow?
Tracking individual enzymes during the breakdown of cellulose for biofuel production has revealed how several roadblocks slow this process when using plant material that might otherwise go to waste. The research may lead to new ways to improve the breakdown process and make the non-edible parts of plants and other plant waste, such as forestry residue, a more competitive source of biofuels.
Tue, 07 May 2024 19:52:12 EDT
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/05/240507195212.htm
This sound-suppressing silk can create quiet spaces
Researchers developed a silk fabric, which is barely thicker than a human hair, that can suppress unwanted noise and reduce noise transmission in a large room.
Tue, 07 May 2024 15:24:57 EDT
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/05/240507152457.htm
Could getting enough sleep help prevent osteoporosis?
In people's early- to mid-20s, they reach what is called peak bone mineral density, which is higher for men than it is for women, according to researchers. This peak is one of the main determinants of fracture risk later in life. After reaching this peak, a person's bone density remains roughly stable for a couple of decades. Then, when women enter the menopausal transition, they experience accelerated bone loss. Men also experience bone density decline as they age. Sleep patterns also evolve over time.
Tue, 07 May 2024 15:02:36 EDT
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/05/240507150236.htm
It flickers, then it tips -- study identifies early warning signals for the end of the African humid period
Tipping points in the climate system can be the result of a slow but linear development. However, they can also be accompanied by a 'flickering', with two stable climatic states that alternate before a final transition occurs -- and the climate tips permanently.
Tue, 07 May 2024 15:02:33 EDT
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/05/240507150233.htm
Emergency department packed to the gills? Someday, AI may help
Emergency departments nationwide are overcrowded and overtaxed, but a new study suggests artificial intelligence (AI) could one day help prioritize which patients need treatment most urgently.
Tue, 07 May 2024 15:02:30 EDT
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/05/240507150230.htm
AI predicts tumor-killing cells with high accuracy
Using artificial intelligence, scientists have developed a powerful predictive model for identifying the most potent cancer killing immune cells for use in cancer immunotherapies.
Tue, 07 May 2024 15:02:28 EDT
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/05/240507150228.htm
Biomarker found to help identify cells that can repair damaged blood vessels
Researchers have discovered a protein marker to help identify cells able to repopulate in patients with damaged blood vessels. Their findings could lead to new therapies for people with endothelial dysfunction, a type of disorder that contributes to coronary artery disease that may occlude with plaque and lack ability to carry sufficient blood into the heart tissue causing a heart attack.
Tue, 07 May 2024 15:02:25 EDT
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/05/240507150225.htm
Efficacy of solar panels boosted
Solar energy is a crucial asset in the fight against climate change, and researchers have now devised a smart approach to optimize its effectiveness. Their innovative method includes incorporating artificial ground reflectors, a simple yet powerful enhancement.
Tue, 07 May 2024 15:02:08 EDT
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/05/240507150208.htm
Sedentary lifestyle puts strain on young hearts
According to a recent study, high levels of sedentary behavior and physical inactivity from childhood strain the heart in adolescence. High cardiac workload predicts heart failure and other heart diseases. In light of the findings, increasing moderate and vigorous physical activity from childhood onwards is particularly important in preventing heart diseases.
Tue, 07 May 2024 15:02:03 EDT
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/05/240507150203.htm
Years after his death, late scientist's work could yield new cancer treatments
Recent reproductive research has opened the door for new treatments for solid cancer tumors, including breast cancer, lung cancer and melanoma.
Tue, 07 May 2024 15:02:00 EDT
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/05/240507150200.htm
US geographic region results in vastly different anal cancer risk for people with HIV
For people with HIV, the risk of anal cancer varies according to their geographic region.
Tue, 07 May 2024 15:01:38 EDT
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/05/240507150138.htm
Researchers show that slow-moving earthquakes are controlled by rock permeability
A research group explores how the makeup of rocks, specifically their permeability -- or how easily fluids can flow through them -- affects the frequency and intensity of slow slip events. Slow slips' role in the earthquake cycle may help lead to a better model to predict when earthquakes happen.
Tue, 07 May 2024 15:01:35 EDT
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/05/240507150135.htm
'Better than graphene' material development may improve implantable technology
Move over, graphene. There's a new, improved two-dimensional material in the lab. Borophene, the atomically thin version of boron first synthesized in 2015, is more conductive, thinner, lighter, stronger and more flexible than graphene, the 2D version of carbon. Now, researchers have made the material potentially more useful by imparting chirality -- or handedness -- on it, which could make for advanced sensors and implantable medical devices.
Tue, 07 May 2024 15:01:32 EDT
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/05/240507150132.htm
Intermittent fasting protects against liver inflammation and liver cancer
Fatty liver disease often leads to chronic liver inflammation and can even result in liver cancer. Scientists have now shown in mice that intermittent fasting on a 5:2 schedule can halt this development. The fasting regime reduces the development of liver cancer in mice with pre-existing liver inflammation. The researchers identified two proteins in liver cells that are jointly responsible for the protective effect of fasting. An approved drug can partially mimic this effect.
Tue, 07 May 2024 15:01:30 EDT
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/05/240507150130.htm
Bee body mass, pathogens and local climate influence heat tolerance
How well bees tolerate temperature extremes could determine their ability to persist in a changing climate. But heat tolerance varies between and within populations, so entomologists examined bee physical traits to understand how these traits interact with environmental conditions, pathogens and other factors.
Tue, 07 May 2024 15:01:24 EDT
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/05/240507150124.htm
Seeking medical insights in the physics of mucus
Understanding how mucus changes, and what it changes in response to, can help diagnose illnesses and develop treatments. Researchers develop a system to grow mucus-producing intestinal cells and study the characteristics of the mucus in different conditions. The process involves growing a layer of intestinal cells on a laboratory plate exposed to air. These cells produce a layer of mucus that the researchers can easily access for testing. Using a magnetic wire, they can measure the consistency of the mucus without affecting its properties, and the platform can explore the effects of pathogens and help develop medications to combat them.
Tue, 07 May 2024 15:00:48 EDT
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/05/240507150048.htm
Study sheds light on cancer cell 'tug-of-war'
Researchers used a breast cancer cell line panel and primary tumor explants from breast and cervical cancer patients to examine two different cellular contractility modes: one that generates collective tissue surface tension that keeps cell clusters compact and another, more directional, contractility that enables cells to pull themselves into the extracellular matrix. They found that more aggressive cells pull more strongly on the ECM than on themselves while noninvasive cells pull more strongly on themselves than on the ECM -- and that the different pulling behaviors are attributed to different structures of actin cytoskeleton inside the cells.
Tue, 07 May 2024 15:00:46 EDT
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/05/240507150046.htm
Low-energy process for high-performance solar cells
Finding reliable, eco-friendly power sources is crucial as our world grapples with increasing energy needs and the urgent call to combat climate change. Solar energy offers one solution, with scientists devising ever more efficient materials for capturing sunlight.
Tue, 07 May 2024 15:00:43 EDT
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/05/240507150043.htm
Tiny displacements, giant changes in optical properties
Researchers reveal a new pathway for designing optical materials using the degree of atomic disorder. The researchers anticipate developing crystals that enable advanced infrared imaging in low light conditions, or to enhance medical imaging devices.
Tue, 07 May 2024 15:00:41 EDT
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/05/240507150041.htm
Fruit fly model identifies key regulators behind organ development
A new computational model simulating fruit fly wing development has enabled researchers to identify previously hidden mechanisms behind organ generation. An research team developed a fruit fly model to reverse engineer the mechanisms that generate organ tissue.
Tue, 07 May 2024 15:00:39 EDT
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/05/240507150039.htm
A new mother's immune status varies with her feeding strategy
In one of the first studies of its kind, UC Santa Barbara researchers have found that the immune status of postpartum mothers shifts with how she feeds her baby. Certain inflammatory proteins -- substances that are secreted as part of an immune response -- peak at different times of day, correlating with whether the mothers breastfeed, pump or formula-feed their babies.
Tue, 07 May 2024 15:00:36 EDT
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/05/240507150036.htm
Genetics, not lack of oxygen, causes cerebral palsy in quarter of cases
The world's largest study of cerebral palsy (CP) genetics has discovered genetic defects are most likely responsible for more than a quarter of cases in Chinese children, rather than a lack of oxygen at birth as previously thought.
Tue, 07 May 2024 15:00:34 EDT
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/05/240507150034.htm
New device that emits magnetic field may offer hope for treating depression
In an exploratory clinical trial, four male patients diagnosed with major depressive disorder underwent eight weeks of treatment with a device that generates a low-frequency ultralow magnetic field environment (ELF-ELME). An improvement in depressive symptoms was observed, with no adverse effects, among all patients. If the efficacy of the device can be confirmed in larger clinical trials with a control group, this therapy could serve as an alternative treatment for patients who do not want to take antidepressant medications.
Tue, 07 May 2024 15:00:31 EDT
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/05/240507150031.htm
Progression of herpesvirus infection remodels mitochondrial organization and metabolism
Researchers have found that herpesvirus infection modifies the structure and normal function of the mitochondria in the host cell. The new information will help to understand the interaction between herpesvirus and host cells. Knowledge can be utilized in the development of viral treatments.
Tue, 07 May 2024 15:00:26 EDT
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/05/240507150026.htm
How a 'conductor' makes sense of chaos in early mouse embryos
The earliest stages of mammalian embryo development are like an orchestra performance, where everyone must play at the exact right moment and in perfect harmony. New research identifies one of the conductors making sense of the chaos.
Tue, 07 May 2024 15:00:18 EDT
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/05/240507150018.htm
From fossils to fuel: Mozambique's Maniamba Basin's energy potential
In the ever-expanding search for energy resources, a new study has emerged from Mozambique's Maniamba Basin. Mozambique's Maniamba Basin could be a big source of natural gas.
Tue, 07 May 2024 15:00:16 EDT
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/05/240507150016.htm
Scientists cooked pancakes, Brussels sprouts, and stir fry to detect an oxidant indoors
A feast cooked up has revealed singlet oxygen, an oxidant, indoors. Oxidants can be beneficial -- ozone in the stratosphere is one example -- but can also cause stress to our lungs, contributing to the development of cancer, diabetes, and heart disease in the long term.
Tue, 07 May 2024 15:00:09 EDT
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/05/240507150009.htm
