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Ultrafast laser pulses could lessen data storage energy needs

18/01/2024
A discovery from an experiment with magnetic materials and ultrafast lasers could be a boon to energy-efficient data storage.

Study throws our understanding of gene regulation for a loop

18/01/2024
To function properly, the genetic material is highly organized into loop structures that often bring together widely separated sections of the genome critical to the regulation of gene activity. Scientists now address how these loops can help repress or silence gene activity, with potentially far-reaching effects on human health.

Spider venom heart drug a step closer

18/01/2024
A molecule sourced from funnel web spider venom shows promise as a safe and effective future drug for heart attacks.

Machine learning reveals sources of heterogeneity among cells in our bodies

18/01/2024
A team of scientists discovered the secrets of cell variability in our bodies. The findings of this research are expected to have far-reaching effects, such as improvement in the efficacy of chemotherapy treatments, or set a new paradigm in the study of antibiotic-resistant bacteria.

Males of newly described Australian burrowing scorpions have a big tail to tell

18/01/2024
A study has found some surprising features in two new species of burrowing scorpions, including a very strangely shaped 'tail tip' and some 'sexy' anatomy features. Terrestrial biologists have taken a closer look at two new species of the mysterious Urodacus genus of burrowing scorpions endemic to Australia -- only to find a big difference in their tails compared to other species.

A new targeted treatment calms the cytokine storm

18/01/2024
Researchers have discovered a novel treatment to relieve cytokine release syndrome (CRS), a life-threatening inflammation triggered by a serious infection or severe burn. Treatment with a short-acting antibody reduces the inflammatory effects of interleukin-6, a key cytokine in CRS while avoiding the side effects associated with previous longer-acting therapies.

Older adults who exercise with their spouse may be less physically active than those who exercise individually

18/01/2024
A study has found that older adults who exercise with their spouse achieve lower physical activity levels than older adults without their spouse. In a study of 240 participants in Singapore aged 54 to 72 years old, the researchers also found that those who received personalized feedback on their fitness trackers were more active than those who did not.

Perfecting 3D-printed blood vessels with pores

18/01/2024
Due to the substantial clinical demand for artificial small-diameter vessels (SDVs), numerous commercial products have emerged. However, the majority of existing artificial SDVs lack an endothelial layer, leading to thrombosis. Fabricating artificial SDVs with a consistently uniform endothelial layer and adequate mechanical properties has proven exceptionally challenging. A research team has now induced spontaneous cell assembly and endothelialization through internal pores.

Pushing the boundaries of ultrasound imaging: Breaking new ground with ultrafast technology

18/01/2024
Researchers have achieved a successful contrast agent-free imaging of complex structure of kidney vessels.

Researchers optimize 3D printing of optically active nanostructures

18/01/2024
The shape, size and optical properties of 3-dimensional nanostructures can now be simulated in advance before they are produced directly with high precision on a wide variety of surfaces. Nanoprobes or optical tweezers with sizes in the nanometre range are now within reach.

Childhood stress linked to higher risk of high blood pressure, obesity, diabetes in adults

18/01/2024
Young adults who reported higher stress as adolescents were more likely to have high blood pressure, obesity and other cardiometabolic risk factors as adults, finds new study.

US air pollution rates on the decline but pockets of inequities remain

18/01/2024
Our latest study shows there are racial/ethnic and socioeconomic disparities in air pollution emissions reductions, particularly in the industry and energy generation sectors. The findings provide a national investigation of air pollution emission changes in the 40 years following the enactment of the Clean Air Act (CAA). Until now, studies have primarily focused on evaluating air pollution disparities at a single time point, focusing on pollutant concentrations instead of emissions. A focus on emissions, however, has more direct implications for regulations and policies. In this study, the researchers used county-level data to evaluate racial/ethnic and socioeconomic disparities in air pollution emissions changes in the contiguous U.S. from 1970 to 2010.

Surprisingly simple model explains how brain cells organize and connect

18/01/2024
A new study by physicists and neuroscientists describes how connectivity among neurons comes about through general principles of networking and self-organization, rather than the biological features of an individual organism.

New study unveils emotional hubs that exist across languages

18/01/2024
Emotions influence human decision-making and behavior. Therefore, understanding the most salient human emotions can have theoretical and practical implications. By exploiting a feature of words called colexification, researchers from Japan discovered that the emotions 'GOOD,' 'BAD,' 'HAPPY,' and 'WANT' act as emotional hubs across languages. Their findings may provide crucial insights for understanding language evolution and natural language processing.

Long live the graphene valley state

18/01/2024
Researchers found evidence that bilayer graphene quantum dots may host a promising new type of quantum bit based on so-called valley states.

Early detection of breast cancer: Study confirms the effectiveness of a new approach

18/01/2024
Early detection of disease is considered positive -- but what if it finds 'too much'? While early diagnosis can improve the chances of recovery, early detection can also have unwanted side effects. After all, not everything that is found would have become life-threatening in the course of the disease. TOSYMA, the world's largest randomized diagnostic superiority study on early breast cancer detection, has now investigated whether the innovative DBT+SM method for early breast cancer detection also has such an effect -- and was once again able to hint on advantages of the approach over the screening standard by finding more early tumor stages of tumor grades 2 and 3.

Microplastics from natural fertilizers are blowing in the wind more often than once thought

18/01/2024
Though natural fertilizers made from treated sewage sludge are used to reintroduce nutrients onto agricultural fields, they bring along microplastic pollutants too. And according to a small-scale study, more plastic particles get picked up by the wind than once thought. Researchers have discovered that the microplastics are released from fields more easily than similarly sized dust particles, becoming airborne from even a slight breeze.

New AI makes better permafrost maps

18/01/2024
New insights from artificial intelligence about permafrost coverage in the Arctic may soon give policy makers and land managers the high-resolution view they need to predict climate-change-driven threats to infrastructure such as oil pipelines, roads and national security facilities.

Study delivers detailed photos of galaxies' inner structures

18/01/2024
High-resolution images captured by the James Webb Space Telescope are offering powerful insights into the complex dust patterns of nearby star-forming galaxies.

Researchers identify key characteristics associated with improved CAR T outcomes in large B cell lymphoma

18/01/2024
Axi-cel CAR T targets the CD19 molecule on large B-cell lymphoma cells. The ZUMA-7 trial demonstrated that axi-cel reduced the risk of disease progression, the need for new therapy, or death by 60% compared to standard therapy. Despite these positive outcomes in event-free survival and overall survival, some patients did not respond well to therapy or relapsed quickly after treatment. Researchers wanted to assess if there were specific tumor characteristics associated with improved outcomes that could better inform treatment selection.

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