Feature Channels: All Journal News

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Repeated vaccination and infection leads T cells and B cells to build an "immunity wall"

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Protest movements that reject political parties have an unintended consequence, according to new research from the University of Notre Dame: They empower savvy politicians who channel them to shake up the status quo. The findings provide a framework for understanding recent global political realignments and offer lessons for activists who want to make a meaningful impact.

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Exoplanets are planets beyond our solar system. To date, more than 5,000 of them have been identified. They are expected to form and orbit around stars, in a similar fashion to planets in our solar system. However, some appear “free-floating” in space, not bound to any host star. The puzzle to their formation was further deepened in fall 2023, when astrophysicists using the James Webb Space Telescope identified massive floating binary objects about the size of Jupiter – and dubbed them JuMBOs (Jupiter-mass binary objects).

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Consuming raw cow's milk that contains H5N1 avian influenza virus poses an infection risk, but a laboratory process that simulates high-temperature pasteurization reduces the virus in infected milk by more than 99.99%. That's according to a team led by University of Wisconsin–Madison scientists, who reported their findings May 24 in a letter published in the New England Journal of Medicine.

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Adults react differently to alcohol advertisements depending on how explicit or implicit the messaging is about the social pleasure of drinking and the possible health effects, a new study shows. Exposure to alcohol marketing is consistently linked to alcohol use. Research also suggests that alcohol advertising influences attitudes around alcohol, such as social norms or reasons for drinking. Policymakers’ options for lowering alcohol consumption and its harms include content controls on advertising. Restricting sales messages to facts about the product is known to reduce how persuasive it is among consumers. Mandating health warnings also increases consumers’ perceptions of risk and reduces the perceived benefits of drinking. No studies, however, have previously examined the effects of such content controls on consumers in the UK. In addition, most research has focused on young adults, yet adults in midlife and beyond may also be vulnerable to the effects of marketing. For the study i

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The intricate nature of light, characterized by its intensity, polarization, and spectrum composition, holds profound importance across a range of scientific and technological disciplines. From enhancing optical communications to enabling precise chemical and biological characterization, a comprehensive understanding of light's properties is indispensable.

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The Korea Institute of Energy Research develops a process to convert carbon dioxide into the antioxidant carotenoids using microorganisms. By using a carbon dioxide absorbent, the problem of low solubility is resolved, and the productivity of high-value substances is also improved. Published in the world-renowned journal in the field of chemistry, 'ChemSusChem

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Hybrid poplar tissue culture regeneration involves intricate changes in DNA methylation, significantly impacting gene expression. This study reveals the dynamic epigenetic landscape during shoot organogenesis, offering crucial insights into allele-specific DNA methylation and its regulatory role in gene expression.

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This study explores the mechanism by which exogenous methyl jasmonate (MeJA) enhances tomato resistance to saline-alkali stress. Researchers identified the transcription factor SlWRKY80 as a crucial regulator, which, when overexpressed, significantly improves the plant's tolerance.

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Researchers have sequenced the genome of Populus pruinosa, a plant thriving in extreme deserts. The study reveals key genes for high salinity and drought adaptability. Analysis of individuals from various populations shows genetic differentiation driven by precipitation, offering insights for ecological conservation and genetic enhancement of desert poplars.

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Researchers at the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) introduce a polymer-based material with unique properties in the latest issue of the journal Nature Communications. This material allows sunlight to enter, maintains a more comfortable indoor climate without additional energy, and cleans itself like a lotus leaf. The new development could replace glass components in walls and roofs in the future

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Support for retaining 26 January as Australia’s national day of celebration appears to be slipping, according to a new survey that shows growing numbers of people are open to changing the date out of respect for First Nations people.

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A new study by UC Davis researchers finds key differences in the development of the cortex between autistic boys and girls ages 2-13.

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Astronomers are now using AI to measure the expansion of our universe. Two recent studies led by Maria Dainotti, a visiting professor with UNLV’s Nevada Center for Astrophysics and assistant professor at the National Astronomical Observatory of Japan (NAOJ), incorporated multiple machine learning models to add a new level of precision to distance measurements for gamma-ray bursts (GRBs) – the most luminous and violent explosions in the universe.

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Breaking research demonstrates that clinical labs should account for the self-reported race of pregnant individuals when screening for spina bifida and other open neural tube defects. This finding, which was presented today in the Association for Diagnostics & Laboratory Medicine’s (formerly AACC’s) Clinical Chemistry journal, could improve prenatal care for pregnant Black individuals.

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New research from political scientists at the University of Notre Dame found that the botched ticket presales for Taylor Swift’s “Eras Tour” in late 2022 made it nearly impossible for most Swift fans to get tickets, forcing them to pay attention to event ticketing politics — namely the lack of market competition, consumer rights and wealth inequality — and galvanizing them to speak out on those issues and hold their elected officials accountable.

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UC San Diego biologists have provided new insights on a longstanding puzzle in biology: How complex organisms arise from a single fertilized cell. Producing a new “gene atlas” with 4-D imaging, the researchers captured unprecedented insights on how embryonic development unfolds.

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Working under the umbrella of the PsychENCODE Consortium, the mental health research project established in 2015 by the National Institutes of Health, a team of Mount Sinai scientists has uncovered important new insights into the molecular biology of neuropsychiatric disease through two new studies published in a special issue of Science on Friday, May 24.

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Volume 29, Issue 2 of SLAS Discovery features two review articles, six original research articles covering phenotypic screening perspectives, medulloblastoma therapies and interventions for neurodegenerative diseases.

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Researchers at University of California San Diego School of Medicine found that using an innovative surgical approach to remove an acoustic neuroma, a slow-growing, benign brain tumor, improved hearing preservation and quality of life for patients while also presenting excellent facial nerve outcomes.

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A new study focused on the gene tied to a rare form of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) called FOXP1 syndrome offers hope that gene therapy might be able to help patients with this condition.

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Volume 29, Issue 2 of SLAS Technology, includes three original research articles covering skin cutaneous melanoma, glycan-bead coupling and acoustic ejection mass spectrometry, and eight articles from the Advances in Synthetic Biology Special Issue.

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The American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO) published an updated clinical guideline that details best practices for treating patients who have symptomatic bone metastases and ways to improve their quality of life. The guideline is available as a free access article in Practical Radiation Oncology. “Radiation therapy is a cornerstone of care for patients with symptomatic bone metastases, offering a nonsurgical option for fast pain relief and improved quality of life with minimal side effects,” said Tracy Balboni, MD, MPH, chair of the guideline task force.

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A recent review explores the innovative use of self-assembled protein nanoparticles (SAPNs) and virus-like particles (VLPs) in veterinary vaccine development. The research highlights the superior safety and efficacy of these nanovaccines over traditional formulations, offering a promising future for animal health and disease prevention.

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An experimental mRNA vaccine against avian influenza virus H5N1 is highly effective in preventing severe illness and death in preclinical models. The vaccine could potentially help manage the outbreak of the H5N1 virus currently circulating in birds and cattle in the United States, and prevent human infections with the virus.

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Scientists have made discoveries about light particles known as photons that could aid the quest for fusion energy.

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Cold stress significantly hampers tomato growth and yield. Recent research reveals that 5-aminolevulinic acid (ALA) enhances cold tolerance in tomatoes by regulating the SlMYB4/SlMYB88-SlGSTU43 gene module. This discovery opens new avenues for genetic engineering to develop cold-resistant tomato varieties, potentially ensuring better crop resilience and productivity under low-temperature conditions.

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In the rapidly evolving world of cryptocurrency, volatility management remains a crucial challenge. Researchers have now developed a novel approach that integrates Exponential Generalized Autoregressive Conditional Heteroskedasticity (EGARCH) with genetic algorithms and neural networks to enhance the precision of trading decisions in this volatile market.

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A new assembly toolkit, an efficient assembly toolkit (PMAT), is set to revolutionize the study of plant mitochondrial genomes (mitogenomes), offering an unprecedented approach to understanding plant evolution and cytoplasmic male sterile line breeding. This tool stands to overcome significant challenges in the complete assembly of plant mitogenomes, a task previously hindered by complex recombination events and horizontal gene transfers.

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A recent study has assembled a gap-free genome for Mentha suaveolens, providing new insights into its genetic structure and terpenoid diversification. The research highlights the unique composition of volatile compounds, particularly piperitenone oxide, and identifies key genetic variations affecting its biosynthesis. These findings enhance our understanding of Mentha's medicinal properties and facilitate targeted breeding for improved traits.

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A new study from Case Western Reserve University School of Law seeks to help settle a long-standing debate about how to design incentives to spark economic development in distressed places. It finds that “smart” incentives—those selectively awarded, monitored and adaptable—yield greater community impact.

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A recent study offers a thorough analysis of germ-free (GF) animal models, essential tools for unraveling the intricate interactions between microorganisms and their hosts. These models are proving crucial in understanding how microbiota influence a range of physiological processes and could lead to innovative treatments for various diseases.

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New research has introduced an approach to minimizing alignment errors in double-sided microlens arrays (DSMLAs) during precision glass molding (PGM), significantly enhancing the quality and functionality of optical devices.

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A new paper in Physical Review Letters explores the effects of memory in quantum systems and ultimately offers a novel solution to decoherence, one of the primary problems facing quantum technologies.

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Research has highlighted how weather extremes worsened by climate change are now a major national public health threat.

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A study from the University of Adelaide has discovered molecular pathways regulated by a gene traditionally used to control wheat-flowering behaviour could be altered to achieve greater yields.

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For the first time, nuclear physicists made precision measurements of the short-lived radioactive molecule, radium monofluoride (RaF). The researchers combined ion-trapping and specialized laser systems to measure the fine details of the quantum structure of RaF. This allowed them to study the rotational energy levels of RaF and determine its laser-cooling scheme.

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Even slight cognitive changes can affect an older person’s decision to stop driving, according to a new study by researchers at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis. The findings suggest that routine cognitive testing — in particular, the kind of screening designed to pick up the earliest, most subtle decline — could help older adults and their physicians make decisions about driving that maximizes safety while preserving independence as long as possible.

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What factors lead older adults to stop driving? A new study followed older adults who had no memory or thinking problems to examine this question. The study is published in the May 22, 2024, online issue of Neurology®, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology.

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People who eat more ultra-processed foods like soft drinks, chips and cookies may have a higher risk of having memory and thinking problems and having a stroke than those who eat fewer processed foods, according to a new study published in the May 22, 2024, online issue of Neurology®, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology. The study does not prove that eating ultra-processed foods causes memory and thinking problems and stroke. It only shows an association.

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A new study that investigated the presence of the smallest particles of microplastics (MPs) in ocean waters from the Caribbean to the Arctic found that the most abundant (and tiny) MPs in the ocean are not being detected by net tow surveys.

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Many scientists study the proteins in our cells in order to fight diseases like cancer, but Cornell College Assistant Biochemistry Professor Collin O’Leary and a team of researchers are turning their focus to the structure of RNA.

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Location, race and insurance status play a significant part in the odds of a patient being diagnosed with early-stage or late-stage cancer, according to a detailed medical records analysis of more than 94,000 patients with cancer by researchers at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health and the Johns Hopkins Kimmel Cancer Center.

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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 at Penn State have made the material potentially more useful by imparting chirality — or handedness — on it, which could make for advanced sensors and implantable medical devices.

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A study co-led by researchers at UCLA Health has found distinct brain connectivity patterns in six-week-old infants at risk for developing autism spectrum disorder (ASD).

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Engineers at the University of California San Diego have developed a wearable ultrasound patch that can offer continuous, non-invasive monitoring of blood flow in the brain. The soft and stretchy patch can be comfortably worn on the temple to provide three-dimensional data on cerebral blood flow—a first in wearable technology.

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Scientists have long been studying the brain with a goal of aiding healthier aging. While much is known about risk factors for accelerated brain aging, less has been uncovered to identify ways to reduce cognitive decline.

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A team of scientists at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Brigham and Women’s Hospital, and Harvard University have developed a noninvasive alternative—an oral capsule containing a tiny vibrating motor that is designed to stimulate the stomach to produce the same sense of fullness people experience after eating a large meal.