New neural insights into processing uncertainty in obsessive-compulsive disorder

Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is a neurological disorder characterized by repeated behaviors such as cleaning and checking despite clear objective evidence of cleanliness, orderliness, and correctness. Although the disease is often mischaracterized as a disorder of “fussiness,” the disorder actually stems from difficulty in processing uncertainty. However, the neural underpinnings of…

Study reveals reductions in breast cancer screening uptake during COVID-19 pandemic

A review of COVID-19 studies globally has revealed reductions in breast cancer screening participation during 2020, with differences between geographic regions and healthcare settings. The findings, published today in eLife, suggest the need for continued monitoring of access to breast cancer screening and early diagnosis services, to help identify if…

Blocking proteins could pull the plug on power for colon tumors

Through study findings published Friday in Cell Reports, a team of scientists at VCU Massey Cancer Center discovered a previously unknown interaction between proteins that is responsible for supplying energy to tumor cells and could hold significant implications for the development of future treatments for colon cancer. “This study is…

New research provides hope for Parkinson’s disease symptom control

Data from wearable health trackers uncover treatment strategies that otherwise might have gone underutilized. Advanced patients would benefit from medication formulations that increase dosing frequency and more efficiently integrates extended-release tablets. The model finds that with a recommended medication strategy using data from wearable sensors, patients could spend almost twice…

Rhino kills zookeeper and seriously injures another in Austria | CNN

CNN  —  A zookeeper in Austria has died and another has been seriously injured after being attacked by a rhino, Salzburg police said on Tuesday. The rhino attacked a 33-year-old female animal keeper while she attended to her early morning work in the animal’s enclosure at Salzburg Hellbrunn Zoo, police…

Researchers discover genes behind antibiotic resistance in deadly superbug infections

Australian researchers have uncovered new genetic insights into Staphylococcus aureus, revealing what makes the bacterium so dangerous when it enters the blood. While common, Staphylococcus aureus infections — known as Golden staph — can be life-threatening if the bacteria enter the bloodstream, causing sepsis. Golden staph is notorious for its…

Ultrathin nanotech promises to help tackle antibiotic resistance

Researchers have invented a nano-thin superbug-slaying material that could one day be integrated into wound dressings and implants to prevent or heal bacterial infections. The innovation — which has undergone advanced pre-clinical trials — is effective against a broad range of drug-resistant bacterial cells, including ‘golden staph’, which are commonly…

Movement sensors can detect disease in wild boar

Behavioral sensors attached to wild boars have been used to detect when animals are sick with African Swine Fever, a fatal viral disease that affects both boar and domestic pigs. Accelerometer sensors, which measure tiny changes in movement, showed that wild boars reduced their daily activity by up to 20…

The sweet physics of saltwater taffy

American beach town boardwalks often boast numerous storefronts advertising saltwater taffies. The candy calls to mind summer vacations, a rainbow assortment of colors and flavors, and a sweetness that sticks to the roof of your mouth. But when San To Chan received saltwater taffy to celebrate their thesis defense, their…

Risk of brain hemorrhage appears transmissible via blood transfusion

A major study published in JAMA led by researchers at Karolinska Institutet suggests that a possible cause of spontaneous brain haemorrhage could be transmitted via blood transfusion. At the same time, it is very unlikely that anyone should suffer a brain haemorrhage after receiving donated blood. A common cause of…

Your body’s own cannabinoid molecules calm you during stress

When you are under stress, your brain may release its own cannabinoid molecules to calm you down, activating the same brain receptors as THC derived from cannabis plants. But the brain activity patterns and neural circuits that are regulated by these brain-derived cannabinoid molecules were not well known. A new…

Plant-based food alternatives could support a shift to global sustainability

Replacing 50% of meat and milk products with plant-based alternatives by 2050 can reduce agriculture and land use related greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 31% and halt the degradation of forest and natural land, according to new research. According to the study just published in Nature Communications, additional climate and…

New super-fast flood model has potentially life-saving benefits

A new simulation model that can predict flooding during an ongoing disaster more quickly and accurately than currently possible has been developed by University of Melbourne researchers. Published in Nature Water, researchers say the new model has major potential benefits for emergency responses, reducing flood forecasting time from hours and days…

Dark matter halos measured around ancient quasars

At the center of every galaxy is a supermassive black hole. Beyond a certain size, these become active, emitting huge amounts of radiation, and are then called quasars. It is thought these are activated by the presence of massive dark matter halos (DMH) surrounding the galaxy, directing matter towards the…

Targeted ultrasound can change brain functions for up to an hour after intervention

The targeted use of ultrasound technology can bring about significant changes in brain function that could pave the way towards treatment of conditions such as depression, addiction, or anxiety, a new study suggests. Research by neuroscientists at the University of Plymouth explored the impacts of an emerging technique called transcranial…

Gotcha! New technology speeds up bacterial testing in food

Researchers have developed a measurement technique that rapidly measures the number of viable bacteria in food products. They have succeeded in drastically reducing the inspection time from 2 days to about 1 hour. With this technology, it will be possible to confirm food safety before shipment from factories and prevent…

New insights to enhance treatment and diagnosis of blood cancer

A ground-breaking study by researchers from the Cancer Science Institute of Singapore (CSI Singapore) at the National University of Singapore (NUS) has revealed crucial insights into the role of the histone methyltransferase NSD2 and its epigenetic target PKCα in causing t(4;14) translocated multiple myeloma (MM), a high-risk subtype of blood…

Immunity to COVID-19 reduces contagiousness, study finds

Nearly one in three people exposed to SARS-CoV2 is infected, and as many as two in five with the Omicron variant. In the case of immunity — conferred by vaccination, infection or a combination of the two — this rate drops to one in ten. However, immunity disappears within a…

A linear path to efficient quantum technologies

Researchers at the University of Stuttgart have demonstrated that a key ingredient for many quantum computation and communication schemes can be performed with an efficiency that exceeds the commonly assumed upper theoretical limit — thereby opening up new perspectives for a wide range of photonic quantum technologies. Quantum science not…

Surfactants can cause toxic chemicals in aerosols to last longer in the air

Research led by the University of Birmingham has found that hazardous chemicals commonly encountered in aerosols, such as those produced by cooking and cleaning, can be ‘protected’ in 3D structures formed by surfactants, causing them to last longer in the air. Surfactants, or ‘surface-active agents’ are a class of chemical…

Fewer but more intense tropical storms predicted over the Ganges and Mekong

Climate experts project a decline in the frequency of future tropical storms but an increase in their strength across the Ganges and Mekong basins allowing for better future planning. The Newcastle University-led team focused on the Ganges and Mekong basins and evaluated the simulation of tropical storms. Their analyses show…

A combination of cancer inhibitors shows success in slowing tumor growth

An international team of researchers has demonstrated that a combination of inhibitors may suppress tumor growth and prevent relapse in patients with certain cancers, including head and neck squamous cell carcinoma and lung adenocarcinoma. Their findings support the future development of innovative therapeutic approaches targeting these cancers. The team’s work…