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In the UK legal system, a barrister’s job is to present formalized legal arguments in court and at tribunals. Training to become one, therefore, involves considerable focus on oral skills. It is considered important that barristers have the ability to speak “eloquently.” This risks people thinking there is a “correct” way of speaking in order to be successful in this career. Accents, of course, play an important role here. Accent-based bias discriminates against speakers with non-standard accents—people whose speech differs from Received Pronunciation (RP). There is a consistent pattern of Read More
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Sport has a role to play in creating a culture of respect, yet women in sport are often seen as “less than” on almost every measure: salaries, sponsorship, broadcasting, leadership, access, media, coaching, officiating, uniforms and support. Research shows 3 out of 4 Australian men are gender equality supporters, but very few (17%) prioritize taking any action. As Australia grapples with a “national crisis” of violence against women, what can men in sport do to help? What does the research tell us? Rigid gender norms can play a part in Read More
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Why did Al and Peg Bundy from the sitcom Married… with Children never get divorced? After all, they were rarely happy and constantly arguing. Maybe they felt they were the best they could do for each other—a middle-aged homely shoe salesman and a stay-at-home mom with two kids. They cared for each other, but they also hated each other deeply. And neither ever cheated, despite having the opportunity. However, what if the Bundys lived in Canada today? Would they have stuck it out together or gotten divorced? Common preconceptions would Read More
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Stigma is a glue that holds poverty, inequality and economic insecurity in place enabling and exacerbating inequalities of wealth, health and opportunity, says a new report. Poverty stigma is a “wicked social problem,” highly complex, difficult to define and challenging to solve, says the report. Co-authored by Professor Imogen Tyler, from the Department of Sociology at Lancaster University, and Sarah Campbell, the Head of Participation and Advocacy at UK leading poverty charity Joseph Rowntree Foundation, the report is the outcome of a year-long project involving a group of ten people Read More
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Consumers are drawn to authenticity when it comes to craft-based firms, and a study published in the Strategic Entrepreneurship Journal explores what factors can help give credence to such a quality. The study, authored by Stanislav D. Dobrev of the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee and J. Cameron Verhaal of Tulane University, looked at how managers in identity-driven markets are challenged to maintain their authenticity as their company’s scale of operations expands. In such craft industries, the authors note, overt claims of authenticity by producers are ineffective. By studying the craft beer Read More
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Civilized political debates may seem increasingly out of reach as democracies across the world face rising polarization, but people still want to discuss issues with people they disagree with—especially those who present themselves as balanced and willing to seek solutions that work for everyone or open to learning new information, according to two studies published by the American Psychological Association. One study, published in the Journal of Experimental Psychology: General, examines how U.S. politicians and ordinary Americans with opposing political beliefs could share their ideas on divisive issues in a Read More
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There is no specific set of skills that university graduates need in order to be successful professionally. Rather, the required skills vary according to different areas of the labor market and their specific requirements. In a new study, Dr. Emilia Kmiotek-Meier and her colleagues at the Institute of Sociology and Social Psychology, which is part of the Faculty of Management, Economics and Social Sciences, define three labor market areas with different sets of skills needed: “The middle field,” comprising mainly jobs in the private sector without specific classification; “The world Read More
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53% of Americans give to charity at checkout, and young and diverse people tend to do it more often, according to new research from Binghamton University, State University of New York. Credit: Binghamton University, State University of New York Fifty-three percent of Americans give impulsively to charities at the checkout, and certain demographics tend to give more, according to a new survey conducted by faculty at Binghamton University, State University of New York. From supermarkets to retail, Americans are used to being asked for donations while making in-person or online Read More
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If you search Google Scholar for the phrase “as an AI language model,” you’ll find plenty of AI research literature and also some rather suspicious results. For example, one paper on agricultural technology says, “As an AI language model, I don’t have direct access to current research articles or studies. However, I can provide you with an overview of some recent trends and advancements …” Obvious gaffes like this aren’t the only signs that researchers are increasingly turning to generative AI tools when writing up their research. A recent study Read More
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During the COVID lockdowns, schools and universities worldwide relied on education technology—edtech—to keep students learning. They used online platforms to give lessons, mark work and send feedback, used apps to teach and introduced students to programs that let them work together on projects. In the aftermath of school closures, the market for edtech has kept on growing. The value of the sector is projected to rise to US$132.4 billion globally by 2032. The problem is that we don’t know very much about how effective many edtech apps or programs are—or Read More
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Research published in the journal World Review of Entrepreneurship, Management and Sustainable Development has looked at consumer attitudes toward naturally colored cotton clothing. The study found that amid increasing concerns over the environmental impact of conventional cotton processing, consumers are willing to pay more for a greener T-shirt. A.S. Dishoja, Nisha Bharti, and Sushant Malik of the Symbiosis Institute of International Business at Symbiosis International (Deemed University) in Pune, Maharashtra, India, used data analysis techniques, including decision trees and cluster analysis, to reveal that a fairly significant proportion of respondents Read More
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Colleen McClure, Ph.D. Credit: University of Alabama at Birmingham In the fast-evolving business landscape, artificial intelligence, or AI, is taking center stage in transforming sales processes, making them more efficient and responsive to the dynamic market demands. A new University of Alabama at Birmingham study titled “AI in Sales: Laying the Foundations for Future Research” highlights the pivotal role AI is playing in reshaping the sales sector. UAB Collat School of Business Professor Colleen McClure, Ph.D., and her colleagues provide insight into how AI tools have permeated the sales function, Read More
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Actually, sometimes consumers don’t want to talk to a real person when they’re shopping online, a new study suggests. In fact, what they really want is a chatbot that makes it clear that it is not human at all. In a new study, researchers at The Ohio State University found that people preferred interacting with chatbots when they felt embarrassed about what they were buying online—items like antidiarrheal medicine or, for some people, skin care products. “In general, research shows people would rather interact with a human customer service agent Read More
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In the landscape of modern business, inclusion isn’t just a buzzword—it’s a strategic imperative. Companies like IBM, Volkswagen and Starbucks are moving to more participative strategy development approaches that reflect a growing understanding of the importance of diversity in fostering innovative and creative strategic ideas. Yet the outcomes of inclusive strategy processes often fall short of expectations. A new study in the Strategic Management Journal sheds light on why that may be. In their study of an inclusive strategy process in a large insurance company, Violetta Splitter, along with co-authors Read More
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New research from ESMT Berlin explores the key strategies that firms should adopt when launching a new product. The researchers say that these strategies depend on the current market view of the product and the firm. Employing the correct one, which might sometimes be collaborating with overtly demanding reviewers or instituting rather challenging pilot tests, ensures that the product launch will go as successfully as possible. The paper is published in the journal Production and Operations Management. Tamer Boyaci, professor of management science, and Huseyin Gurkan, assistant professor of management Read More
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An example of the study’s language sample and the words for arm/hand and leg/foot in English and Wolof. Credit: Dr. Annika Tjuka/MPI-EVA Human bodies have similar designs. However, languages differ in the way they divide the body into parts and name them. For example, English speakers have two words for foot and leg, whereas other languages express the concepts foot and leg in one word. The study of the variation in body part vocabularies across diverse languages has attracted the attention of researchers in linguistics, anthropology and psychology for many Read More
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In the weeks before and after the 2020 presidential election, researchers ran a number of tests to try to understand how much Facebook and its corporate cousin, Instagram, may be contributing to the nation’s political divide. One of those experiments—led by Matthew Gentzkow and Hunt Allcott, economics professors at Stanford University—centered on more than 35,000 Facebook and Instagram users who were paid to stay off the platforms in the run-up to Election Day. There’s a lot that researchers could glean from the social media hiatus, including whether people’s political attitudes Read More
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Different types of noise and how they act inside or outside the social interaction process. Credit: Royal Society Open Science (2024). DOI: 10.1098/rsos.231071 Cognitive biases are among the most important factors that prevent people from changing their minds. Climate change deniers and climate activists often tend to accept only information that confirms their respective opinions on the matter. However, opinion dynamics are also influenced by a factor that the researchers call “ambiguity noise.” Unlike biases, ambiguity noise is variable, depends on many random factors, and leads to inconsistent judgment. Is Read More
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“Warrior with flute” by Timothy Tate Nevaquaya. Used with permission. Credit: Timothy Tate Nevaquaya Every love story is unique, and in traditional Indigenous Southern Plains culture, it begins with an original ballad performed on the flute. In order to win a lover’s affection, and respect among the tribe, each pursuer must compose one good flute serenade. Paula Conlon, a former music professor at the University of Oklahoma, has researched the history and cultural significance of the Indigenous flute since the 1980s. Conlon presents her work Tuesday, May 14, at 9:45 Read More
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You’re hard at work, lying in a hammock, composing the perfect selfie on the beach. The turquoise sea sets off the idyllic sunset, and just visible though the fronds of a palm tree is the logo of the hotel which is paying you to promote it to your millions of followers on Instagram. Click. The perfect shot. And another typically perfect day in the life of an influencer. Or is it? Certainly a career as an influencer can seem appealing. The work generally involves promoting products or services through sponsored Read More
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Media psychologists at the University of Cologne have studied how students’ individual needs, conceptions and reasons relate to cheating behavior in online exams. Online exams have become a more common type of exam at universities, especially since the COVID-19 pandemic. They are advantageous because they save time and offer flexibility. However, cheating attempts present a big challenge for lecturers. This is why universities have been working on ways to thwart cheating in online exams by putting organizational and technical measures into place. According to the psychologists Dr. Marco Rüth and Read More
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Trust and distrust in social media coexisted in the study participants. Credit: Emmaline Nelsen Are anti-misinformation interventions on social media working as intended? It depends, according to a new study led by William & Mary researchers and published in the Proceedings of the CHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems (CHI ’24). Their study surveyed over 1,700 participants in the United States, revealing that anti-misinformation features increased users’ awareness of misinformation in social media; but did not make them more likely to share information on social media, or more Read More
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Seventy-eight percent of people in England and Wales think that crime has gone up in the last few years, according to the latest survey. But the data on actual crime shows the exact opposite. As of 2024, violence, burglary and car crime have been declining for 30 years and by close to 90%, according to the Crime Survey for England and Wales (CSEW)—our best indicator of true crime levels. Unlike police data, the CSEW is not subject to variations in reporting and recording. The drop in violence includes domestic violence Read More
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Can we truly assess whether someone finds us attractive? Cognitive psychologist Iliana Samara conducted her Ph.D. project on romantic attraction and discovered that men, in particular, tend to overestimate the interest of their date. She explains why this may be. “Imagine you walk into a packed bar, looking for a date. Your eyes are naturally drawn to attractive faces. If you’re a man and find someone attractive, you’re more likely to assume they’re also interested in you. “Then, when you approach them, whether you’re a man or woman, you tend Read More
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Study authors David M. Cutler (left) and Edward L. Glaeser. Credit: Kris Snibbe/Harvard Staff Photographer Having more education has long been linked to better individual health. But those benefits are also contagious, say the co-authors of a new working paper. “It’s not just that the individuals who have more years of education are in better health,” said David M. Cutler, Otto Eckstein Professor of Applied Economics. “It’s that even people with fewer years of education—for example, people with just a high school degree—are in better health when they live around Read More
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Our research on children in early primary years, show they are better are writing with a pen or pencil than a keyboard. Credit: Cottonbro Studio/ Pexels, CC BY Children today are growing up surrounded by technology. So it’s easy to assume they will be able to write effectively using a keyboard. But our research suggests this is not necessarily true. We need to actively teach students to be able to type as well as write using paper and pen or pencil. Our research Our research team has published two recent Read More
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The NIHR Policy Research Unit in Health and Social Care Workforce published a report from a scoping study titled “The Demand and Supply of Therapists for Children and Young People with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities,” by Prof Ian Kessler and Prof Annette Boaz. The provision of therapies for children and young people (CYP) with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) can be an affectively challenging, sometimes procedurally complex, process for the various stakeholders involved. However, the efficiency and effectiveness of this process, are crucial to various outcomes, in particular Read More
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Many people practice mindfulness or self-compassion techniques in their everyday life as part of their normal self-care routine. Although many studies support the individual benefits of mindfulness and self-compassion, few have focused on romantic relationship outcomes. A new study published in Personal Relationships has examined how mindfulness, self- and other-compassion, and need fulfillment relate to relationship and sexual satisfaction in midlife married couples. The study involved survey results from 640 adults aged 40–59 years who were residing in Canada and were married. Mindfulness is the nonjudgmental attention and awareness to Read More
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Growing up, did you play with hyper-sexualized Barbie dolls, boys-only Thomas the Tank Engine trains, or slim, white Disney princesses? If so, you’re not alone, but this is no longer the case for Generation Alpha. Brands like Mattel, once criticized for promoting unrealistic body standards and gender stereotypes, now portray themselves as feminist and progressive. The recent Barbie movie serves as a prime example of this shift. Millennial parents are actively seeking out toys, books and movies to educate their children about life and teach them values that align with Read More
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Transitioning from university to the workplace is a critical period in anyone’s life, but it can be especially challenging for students with dyslexia. While academic settings often offer accommodations for people with dyslexia, professional environments often fall short on such support systems. Fortunately, there are strategic interventions that can be established in workplaces to help individuals with dyslexia not only adapt, but excel in their careers. It is estimated that up to 20% of the population has dyslexia and 80% of people with a learning disability have dyslexia, making it Read More
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Businesses influence the ideas they receive from external contributors by unintentionally signaling which ideas they like, finds research from ESMT Berlin and INSEAD. This leads to a narrow set of nondiverse ideas. Prof. Linus Dahlander from ESMT Berlin, alongside Prof. Henning Piezunka and Ph.D. candidate Sanghyun Park from INSEAD, analyzed 1.44 million ideas to understand how organizations unknowingly shape the ideas they receive. Data came from organizations that asked visitors how they could improve their websites before choosing which ideas to use. Chosen ideas were communicated for all to see. Read More
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What do names like Noah, James, Mateo, Mia, Evelyn and Luna all have in common? They’re not only some of the top baby names in the United States, but they also seem to flow off the tongue. And that’s exactly why parents love them. On May 10, the Social Security Administration released a list of the top baby names in the United States in 2023. Liam and Olivia maintained the number one spot in their respective categories for the fifth consecutive year while Noah and Emma also retained second place. Read More
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Access to gardens and citizen science projects at school can help promote pro-conservation behavior among pupils, a new study shows. Offering children the chance to take part in authentic scientific ecological work and gardening encourages an interest in plants. This can change behavior—to spend more time gardening or to pursue a botanical career—and fuels a positive attitude towards safeguarding the environment, experts found. Dr. Bethan Stagg from the University of Exeter and Professor Justin Dillon, from UCL, have assessed the evidence around teaching conservation and ecology. Their findings are published Read More
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IU Study on diversity and inclusion: What professionals expect from future employers. Credit: IU Internationale Hochschule Employers who want to attract new talent should recognize diversity and enable inclusion. This is confirmed by a representative study by IU International University of Applied Sciences (IU), which surveyed more than 1,200 trainees and students across Germany. The results clearly show that 75.1% of prospective employees consider it very or somewhat important that companies implement measures to promote diversity and inclusion. This suggests that companies that communicate these measures openly and transparently have Read More
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If the 21st century has proven anything to the United States electorate, it is that presidential elections are notoriously unpredictable affairs. The seeming randomness by which the country’s electorate chooses its next president has only emboldened polling outlets, talking heads, and amateur psephologists to scrutinize every conceivable variable to give their respective electoral forecasting models a much-needed edge. However, Sherwood Clements, collegiate assistant professor of real estate in the Pamplin College of Business, had an electoral theory that, to the best of his knowledge, had never been explored with regards Read More
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If the 21st century has proven anything to the United States electorate, it is that presidential elections are notoriously unpredictable affairs. The seeming randomness by which the country’s electorate chooses its next president has only emboldened polling outlets, talking heads, and amateur psephologists to scrutinize every conceivable variable to give their respective electoral forecasting models a much-needed edge. However, Sherwood Clements, collegiate assistant professor of real estate in the Pamplin College of Business, had an electoral theory that, to the best of his knowledge, had never been explored with regards Read More
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Credit: Keira Burton from Pexels Gossip often has a negative connotation, but imagine you are part of a group deciding on a job candidate to hire or a local political candidate to back. Candidates who get a good reputation by helping others may be more likely to receive help in the form of a job offer or endorsement, a feedback loop known as indirect reciprocity. Gossip can facilitate cooperation. Previous research has shown that people tend to cooperate more when they think their peers are gossiping about their behavior, gossip Read More
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Study co-authors Latyr Sy (Senegal), Gakuto Chiba (Japan), Neddiel Elcie Muñoz Millalonco (Chile), and Aleksandar Arabadjiev (Macedonia) singing and playing their traditional instruments. Credit: Latyr Sy, Gakuto Chiba, Neddiel Elcie Muñoz Millalonco, Aleksandar Arabadjiev Are acoustic features of music and spoken language shared across cultures? Researchers from the Max Planck Institute for Psycholinguistics in Nijmegen have contributed to a global study of music and speech, published in Science Advances. An international team of researchers recorded themselves performing traditional music and speaking in their native language. In all 50+ languages, the Read More
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The topic of homophobia in sport has recently made headlines in Australia, with a series of homophobic incidents involving men’s AFL players. These homophobic incidents are usually well-reported in news media, but research has rarely explored the impact on participation for LGBTQI+ people. Fresh research into the problem Our new research is one of the first pieces of academic research in Australia to document how many LGBTQI+ people play and engage with sport. We also explored current levels of discrimination across sport in Australia, and the barriers and enablers of Read More
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Once upon a time, human relationships unfolded without smartphones. The reality may be hard to recall, so profoundly have these devices transformed the way we relate to the world and others in fifteen years or so. As an anthropologist interested in modernity, I am particularly preoccupied by the impact of these devices on our conversations. In my book, “The End of the Conversation? Words in a Spectral Society” (French original: “La fin de la conversation? La parole dans une société spectrale”), I investigate the pernicious effects of this technology on Read More
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A recent study by researchers from the University of Waterloo and Wilfrid Laurier University has shed light on how to reward employees more fairly and improve team dynamics. The study found that when less skilled employees report their performance voluntarily, they often exaggerate their achievements and ask for higher bonuses. These employees also tend to put in less effort and are less concerned about fairness when sharing their contributions voluntarily. Interestingly, the researchers discovered that requiring employees to explain their contributions leads to fairer decisions about bonus allocation and improves Read More
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What it means to be a man is changing. Critical men or masculinity studies is an emerging robust research field that explores how men and masculinity are being transformed by shifting socio-economic, sexual and political conditions in our post-industrial world. Fascinating new male-identifying sub-cultures and communities have emerged, like mushroomcore and dandies. Yet heteronormative masculinity is typically framed as threatening, toxic or maladaptive, as in the case of fragile masculinity. In my years of swiping on dating apps, I encountered different kinds of masculinities, as well as some very offensive Read More
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AI-generated videos for short messages are only as well received as manually created ones if they are edited by humans. News organizations—including Bloomberg, Reuters, and The Economist—have been using AI powered video services to meet growing audience demand for audio-visual material. A study recently published in the journal Journalism now shows that the automated production of news videos is better with human supervision. Technology providers like Wochit and Moovly are allowing publishers to mass produce videos at scale. But what do audiences think of the results? Researchers led by LMU Read More
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Have a quick think back to the last time you scrolled through social media. Maybe it was this morning, last night or a few minutes ago. What do you recall? One thing you’re bound to remember is the continuous stream of influencers showing off their latest content. These could be videos of influencers discussing the latest skin-care products, the trendiest places to eat, their latest shopping haul or the PR packages they received from various brands. Much of social media influencing is about getting consumers to buy more products. However, Read More
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Credit: Sarah Chai from Pexels Returning to work after parental leave can be one of the most challenging experiences for any parents, especially mothers, to navigate. Fortunately, there are simple, kind and thoughtful ways in which organizational members—regardless of formal status, parental identity or gender identity—can help mothers feel supported as they return to work, which can also benefit job satisfaction and maternal well-being. New research published in Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes by Carlson School of Management Professor Nitya Chawla, leading a national team of researchers, examined the Read More
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Credit: Ann H from Pexels By kindergarten age, most children have been taught that “please” is a magic word. “Please” is an expression of politeness that shows courtesy and respect, turning a potential demand into a request that will—poof!—magically be granted. But a new study on the ways people make requests of one another suggests that “please” might not be an all-purpose marker of politeness, but rather a more focused, strategic tool to manage frictions or obstacles among family members, friends and even coworkers. The study, published in Social Psychology Read More
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Credit: RDNE Stock project from Pexels Human relationships are inherently shaped by power dynamics, yet quantifying their impact has remained a scientific challenge. Now, a large new study published Thursday in the journal Science reveals that military doctors give more attention to higher-ranked patients, providing concrete evidence about the privileges that come with elevated status, frequently at the expense of the less powerful. “One of the things we are trying to show is that this is not a military-specific analysis,” said co-author Manasvini Singh of Carnegie Mellon University, arguing the Read More
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Annie Pullen-Sansfaçon. Credit: Amélie Philibert, Université de Montréal Gender-neutral bathrooms, conversion therapy and Quebec’s advisory committee on gender identity have been in the news lately. These are polarizing, hot-button issues. While there have been legislative and social advances for LGBTQ+ rights, ignorance and discrimination persist and continue to negatively affect the lives of many. On May 17, the International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia, UdeMNouvelles asked two Université de Montréal professors and researchers who are experts in the field to share their views. Annie Pullen Sansfaçon, a professor in Read More
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Experts recommend HOAs and communities consider the “popping” noise associated with pickleball when deciding to build courts near homes. Credit: AIP Pickleball Legal Consultant is a job title that likely did not exist a decade ago, but as pickleball courts infiltrate neighborhoods to satiate an appetite for a sport whose namesake is a snack, communities take issue with the resulting influx of noise. Now homeowners’ associations and city councils face litigation by those whose lives are disrupted by pickleball’s din. Charles Leahy, an attorney, retired mechanical engineer, and former HOA Read More
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In the fast-paced world of modern business, technology plays a crucial role in shaping how companies operate. One area where this impact is particularly significant is in the organization of production chains—specifically the way goods are made and distributed. A new study from the Cornell SC Johnson College of Business advances understanding of the U.S. production chain evolution amidst technological progress in information technology (IT), shedding light on the complex connections between business IT investments and organizational design. Advances in IT have sparked significant changes in how companies design their Read More
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Shawn Bhimani, assistant professor of supply chain management at Northeastern, says it is imperative that the U.S. companies comply with the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act to eradicate abuse. Credit: Matthew Modoono/Northeastern University The Biden administration has added 26 more companies to the list of Chinese textile traders and manufacturers whose goods are blocked from entering the United States because of their alleged ties to forced labor. The banned imports, known as the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act Entity List, names businesses that are said to be involved in exploiting Read More
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The World Health Organization recently announced an outbreak of hepatitis E in the eastern Ouaddai province of Chad. Between January and April 2024, 2,093 suspected hepatitis E cases were reported from two health districts. The Conversation Africa asked Kolawole Oluseyi Akande, a consultant gastroenterologist and hepatologist, to explain the causes, symptoms, spread and treatment of hepatitis E. What is hepatitis and how many types are there? Hepatitis is an inflammation of the liver. It is the way the liver responds to various injuries or harmful agents. Hepatitis is caused by Read More
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Credit: Function (2024). DOI: 10.1093/function/zqae014 Treadmill training, a form of endurance exercise, was found to be highly effective “with robust improvements in skeletal muscle citrate synthase activity in as little as [one to two] weeks, and improvements in maximum run speed and maximal uptake by [four to eight] weeks.” The full effect of endurance exercise training was previously unexplained until this study. Researchers sought to develop and implement a standardized endurance exercise protocol in more than 340 rats participating in progressive treadmill training five days a week for one, two, Read More
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As people age, they often need assistance from their spouse or partner to manage their health problems. Though research has examined the emotional and psychological effects that this support has on the caregiver, less research has been conducted on how it affects care recipients, according to Lynn Martire, professor of human development and family studies at Penn State. In new research by Martire and others in the Penn State College of Health and Human Development, the authors found that people who did not feel good about the pain-management support they Read More
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Katherine Scangos, M.D. (left), oversees transcranial magnetic stimulation. Credit: TMS and Neuromodulation Program/UC San Francisco Some 30 to 40% of patients do not respond to medications for depression and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), but half of them could be helped by a noninvasive in-office procedure. To mark National Mental Health Awareness Month in May, we talk to psychiatrist Katherine Scangos, M.D., Ph.D., co-director of the Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) and Neuromodulation Program at UC San Francisco. TMS is a logical next step for many patients with an inadequate response to standard Read More
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Loneliness is not a disease. And yet it is a significant health problem. Depression, heart disease or dementia—people who are permanently lonely have a higher risk of becoming ill. The team led by Dr. Jana Lieberz from the University Hospital Bonn (UKB), who also conducts research at the University of Bonn, and Prof. Dr. Dirk Scheele (Ruhr University Bochum) have investigated how loneliness can be specifically combated. In a controlled study, in which the universities of Oldenburg, Bochum, Freiburg and Haifa (Israel) were also involved, 78 women and men who Read More
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Oxidative stress is known to exacerbate fibrosis and autoimmunity. In a new study, researchers from Japan have investigated the effects of a dietary antioxidant supplement—Twendee X—on oxidative stress and fibrosis in a mouse model of SSc, an intractable autoimmune disease. Given its effectiveness in other oxidative stress-related diseases including dementia, Twendee X holds the promise of being an effective antioxidant therapeutic against SSc. Credit: Maria Sieglinda von Nudeldorf on Openverse Autoimmune diseases occur when the body’s immune system attacks healthy cells instead of protecting them. Systemic sclerosis (SSc) is one Read More
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Credit: Brunel University The idea that autistic people lack empathy is simply short-sighted and non-autistic people may find it just as hard to put themselves in someone else’s shoes, a study suggests. A paper in the journal Autism flips the script on the often-said stereotype that autistic people have difficulty imagining how others feel. Participants shown video clips featuring autistic and non-autistic people retelling emotional events revealed people without autism find it significantly harder to track autistic people’s emotions. It also revealed people felt emotions more intensely in the body Read More
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Levels of air pollution and road traffic noise levels of nurses from the Danish Nurse Cohort at the cohort baseline aggregated at the municipality level. Credit: Alzheimer’s & Dementia (2024). DOI: 10.1002/alz.13814 Results from a new study suggest that long-term exposure to air pollution leads to increased risk in dementia in Denmark. “We also find association with noise, but this seems to be explained by air pollution primarily. Our study is in line with growing international knowledge on this topic,” says Professor at Section of Environmental Health Zorana Jovanovic Andersen. Read More
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Credit: Wellness Gallery Catalyst Foundation from Pexels Aerobic training is known to regulate blood pressure more effectively when practiced in the evening than in the morning. Researchers who conducted a study of elderly patients at the University of São Paulo’s School of Physical Education and Sports (EEFE-USP) in Brazil concluded that evening exercise is better for blood pressure regulation thanks to improved cardiovascular control by the autonomic nervous system via a mechanism known as baroreflex sensitivity. The study is published in The Journal of Physiology. “There are multiple mechanisms to Read More
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Two different KDs induce cellular senescence. Credit: Science Advances (2024). DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.ado1463 A strict “keto-friendly” diet popular for weight loss and diabetes, depending on both the diet and individual, might not be all that friendly. A new study led by researchers at The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio (UT Health San Antonio) found that a continuous long-term ketogenic diet may induce senescence, or aged, cells in normal tissues, with effects on heart and kidney function in particular. However, an intermittent ketogenic diet, with a planned keto Read More
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A US teenager died of cardiac arrest after taking part in a social media challenge daring people to eat a single extremely hot tortilla chip, an autopsy revealed Thursday. Harris Wolobah, a 14-year-old from Massachusetts, died in September after taking part in the so-called “One Chip Challenge”—which involved a single chip produced by Paqui, dusted with Carolina Reaper and Naga Viper peppers. The dare has manifested in several iterations over the years, with the peppers changing each time. The local chief medical examiner determined that Harris died of cardiac arrest Read More
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Sleepaway camp can be a lot of fun for kids, but only if they’re ready for the experience. And that’s the tough part—figuring out as a parent when a child is ready to stay away from home, and what they’ll need while they’re at camp, said Dr. Laurel Williams, a professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston. A child who can stay one night away from their family might be ready for camp, Williams said. She suggests a sleepover with trusted friends as a Read More
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The U.S. Food and Drug Administration on Thursday approved a new drug to treat patients with an advanced form of deadly lung cancer. Importantly, tarlatamab (Imdelltra) is only for patients who have exhausted all other options to treat extensive-stage small cell lung cancer. “The FDA’s approval of Imdelltra marks a pivotal moment for patients battling [extensive-stage small cell lung cancer],” Dr. Jay Bradner, executive vice president of research and development and chief scientific officer at drug maker Amgen, said in a company news release. “Imdelltra offers these patients who are Read More
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Metformin 500mg tablets. Credit: public domain People who use metformin are less likely to develop a myeloproliferative neoplasm (MPN) over time, indicating that the treatment may help prevent the development of certain types of cancers, according to a study published in Blood Advances. Metformin is a therapy used to treat high blood sugar in people with type 2 diabetes that increases the effect of insulin, reduces how much glucose is released from the liver and helps the body absorb glucose. A meta-analysis of previous studies connected the therapy with a Read More
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A team led by investigators from Massachusetts General Hospital used a new drug to save the life of a patient with immune thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (iTTP), a rare disorder characterized by uncontrolled clotting throughout the small blood vessels. The group describes the first clinical use of the drug for iTTP in the New England Journal of Medicine. “The drug is a genetically engineered version of the missing enzyme in iTTP, and we showed that it was able to reverse the disease process in a patient with an extremely severe form Read More
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Overview of the datasets and computational workflow. Credit: Nature Medicine (2024). DOI: 10.1038/s41591-024-02995-8 A new AI tool to more quickly and accurately classify brain tumors has been developed by researchers at The Australian National University (ANU). According to Dr. Danh-Tai Hoang, precision in diagnosing and categorizing tumors is crucial for effective patient treatment. “The current gold standard for identifying different kinds of brain tumors is DNA methylation-based profiling,” Dr. Hoang said. “DNA methylation acts like a switch to control gene activity, and which genes are turned on or off. “But Read More
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A general view of Brixham Harbour, in Brixham, Devon, Friday May 17, 2024. Around 16,000 homes and businesses in the Brixham area of Devon were told to boil water after cryptosporidium, a microscopic parasite that causes diarrhea, was found in the water. At least 46 cases of cryptosporidiosis have been confirmed and more than 100 other people have reported similar symptoms, the U.K. Health Security Agency said. Cases can last more than two weeks. Credit: Piers Mucklejohn/PA via AP A scenic fishing village in southwestern England was under instructions to Read More
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This undated photo provided by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows a blacklegged tick, also known as a deer tick. Another mild winter and other favorable factors likely means the 2024 tick population will be equal to last year or larger, some researchers say. Credit: CDC via AP, File Tick season is starting across the U.S., and experts are warning the bloodsuckers may be as plentiful as ever. Another mild winter and other favorable factors likely means the 2024 tick population will be equal to last year Read More
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Integration of novel AI-powered digital interventions in the intraoperative setting. Credit: Nature Medicine (2024). DOI: 10.1038/s41591-024-02970-3 You may not think artificial intelligence could have a role in surgery, but new research shows AI can help solve problems for patients, doctors and the health system. A group of researchers led by surgery researcher Dr. Chris Varghese at Waipapa Taumata Rau, University of Auckland has published an article on artificial intelligence in surgery in Nature Medicine. “I think AI has a role in every part of a patient’s surgical journey, before surgery, Read More
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Piezo 1 Activation Decreases the CDH5-stained Area and Increases Drainage of Lymphatic Vessel Mimetics in Polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) Chip. (a) Schematic illustration of the 3D lymphatic vessel model used for this study. (b) Fluorescence confocal images of the engineered lymphatic vessels stained for F-actin and CDH5. (c) The relative area of CDH5-stained cellular junctions. (d) Western blot assays verifying the efficient knock-down of Piezo1 in LECs prepared for the drainage measurement. Credit: Nature Neuroscience (2024). DOI: 10.1038/s41593-024-01604-8 A researcher in the Keck School of Medicine of USC’s department of surgery has Read More
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Morpholino knockdown of cachd1 results in bilateral symmetry. (A-B) Dorsal views of 4 dpf uninjected wildtype and cachd1 morpholino-injected larvae after wholemount in situ hybridization using antisense riboprobes against asymmetric dorsal habenula markers kctd12.1. (C) Semi-quantitative RT-PCR for cachd1 transcripts. Credit: Science (2024). DOI: 10.1126/science.ade6970 Genetic mechanisms behind the brain’s unique left–right differences are now better understood with new research, paving the way for better understanding of human disorders where brain asymmetry is disrupted. The protein, called Cachd1, plays a crucial role in establishing the distinct neural wiring and functions Read More
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Expression of ITGAX and DNASE1L3 in the colonic lamina propria. Credit: Nature Communications (2024). DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-48267-4 Researchers in the Peter Gorer Department of Immunobiology have identified that features of the immune system that were previously considered to be characteristics of autoimmune diseases are normal components of the immune system in human gut that interact with each other alongside bacteria. The study is published in Nature. The authors used a combination of spatial transcriptomics and multiplexed single-cell technologies to pinpoint a B cell subtype in normal intestinal lymphoid tissue that is Read More
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Profiling of the 38,814 single cells isolated from three types of donor arteries. a. Schematic of overall study design; b. UMAP plot of the integrated donor artery datasets, with cells colored according to the major cell types; c. UMAP plots showing the composition and similarities of major cell types in each donor arteries. Credit: IGDB Coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) is a surgical procedure that improves blood flow to the heart tissue and can effectively treat myocardial ischemia caused by coronary artery disease. In CABG, a healthy blood vessel is Read More
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Credit: JCI Insight (2024). DOI: 10.1172/jci.insight.174179 A joint team effort led by Dr. Haruhisa Inoue (Professor, Department of Cell Growth and Differentiation, CiRA) has established iPS cells from two patients with EYS-associated retinal dystrophies (EYS-RD) and converted them into retinal organoids to study the root cause of this debilitating visual disability. The study is published in JCI Insight. Inherited retinal dystrophies (IRDs) represent a collection of degenerative eye pathologies affecting photoreceptor cells in the retina that may ultimately result in irreversible vision loss. IRD is a leading cause of visual Read More
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The coupling between dLGN spiking and pupil dynamics is not driven by overt behaviors. (A) Locomotion speed for an example period of quiescence. (B) Locomotion speed for a period of locomotion. (C) Eye position for an example recording period with saccadic eye movements. Credit: PLOS Biology (2024). DOI: 10.1371/journal.pbio.3002614 What we see is not simply just a neural representation of the pattern of light in the eye, but an interpretation of this image, to which our needs and expectations contribute. These factors are shaped by earlier experiences and also depend Read More
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Model of LpIMB19/RHP-induced anti-cancer immunity. Credit: Nature Immunology (2024). DOI: 10.1038/s41590-024-01816-x A team from POSTECH and ImmunoBiome has made a potential breakthrough in the fight against cancer. Their research, published in the May issue of Nature Immunology, explores a dietary-derived bacterial strain, IMB001. This strain induces “nutritional immunity” to boost anti-tumor responses. This discovery sheds light on how microbial therapies work and opens doors for their use in clinical settings. The research, led by Dr. Sin-Hyeog Im, a professor at Pohang University of Science and Technology (POSTECH) and founder & Read More
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Illustrative images of fetal main pulmonary artery and intrapulmonary artery Doppler. Credit: Vellvé, K., Garcia-Canadilla, P., Nogueira, M. et al. If during a pregnancy a fetus grows below normal thresholds, at each week of gestation there is an increased risk that some of its organs may not develop properly, which can adversely affect the baby’s health after birth. The life-long effects of restricted fetal growth on brain and cardiovascular development have been the subject of much research, but there is a lack of scientific evidence on its impact on the Read More
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Dr Tscharke with a wastewater sample. Credit: University of Queensland People from a higher socioeconomic status drink more alcohol on average than those of lower socioeconomic background, according to new research from The University of Queensland. Dr. Ben Tscharke from UQ’s Queensland Alliance for Environmental Health Sciences (QAEHS) said the team analyzed wastewater samples collected from 50 sites across Australia between 2016 and 2023, covering 50% of the population. The study was published in Drug and Alcohol Dependence. “We used wastewater analysis to assess long-term trends in alcohol consumption based Read More
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(a) 248 cortical subregions and (b) 56 subcortical subregions of Macaque Brainnetome Atlas. Credit: Science China Press As an ideal model for studying human cognitive function and brain diseases, macaques are highly similar to humans in genetics, physiology, and brain structure. Currently, non-human primates are considered as a core source for exploring cognitive neural mechanisms and promoting translational medicine. Therefore, a multifaced brain atlas elucidating the architecture of the macaque brain is of great significance for translating research findings from macaques to humans. Such an atlas can characterize profiles of Read More
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Time series plot of leptospirosis across flood phases in the study area. a Alappuzha in 2018. b Pathanamthitta in 2018. c Alappuzha in 2019. d Pathanamthitta in 2019. Credit: International Journal of Health Geographics (2024). DOI: 10.1186/s12942-024-00372-9 A recent study, published by researchers at the Faculty of ITC in the International Journal of Health Geographics, has shown that flooding leads to increased leptospirosis cases. First author, John Ifejube is a recent graduate of the master’s program in Spatial Engineering. This publication is a direct result of his thesis on GeoHealth. Read More
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A Cleveland Clinic-led team of scientists and physicians have discovered that the immune checkpoint protein VISTA can directly turn off tumor-fighting T-cells during immunotherapy and resist treatment. The study, published in Science Immunology, explains that VISTA can bind to a protein called LRIG1 in T cells, which was previously only thought to promote bone and fat development. When VISTA binds to LRIG1, the researchers found, LRIG1 sends signals that suppress T cell replication, survival and function. This interaction can happen between molecules on tumor cells and on T cells, molecules Read More
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Roughly one in five cancer patients benefit from immunotherapy—a treatment that harnesses the immune system to fight cancer. Such an approach to beating cancer has seen significant success in lung cancer and melanoma, among others. Optimistic about its potential, researchers are exploring strategies to improve immunotherapy for cancers that don’t respond well to the treatment, with the hope of benefiting more patients. Now, researchers at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis have found, in mice, that a strain of gut bacteria—Ruminococcus gnavus—can enhance the effects of cancer immunotherapy. Read More
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A single-photon emission computerized tomography (SPECT) scan uses a radioactive substance (Techne gas) and a special camera to create lung images. CT-derived functional imaging is a novel image processing method without the need for inhalation of special gas or injection of contrast. This image shows close similarities between areas of lung function obtained on same patient with CTFI and SPECT. Credit: Corewell Health For up to 30% of patients who are allergic to medical contrast dye or have a dye restriction because of other health conditions, they might find that Read More
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Figure portrays the mean values of all Environmental Burden indicators by race/ethnicity. Credit: Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease Reports (2024). DOI: 10.3233/ADR-240020 A study by Duke and Columbia Universities finds older, non-white adults are more likely to live in areas with higher air pollution and near toxic disposal sites, among or environmental injustices, potentially underlying their cognitive health. “A lot of money has been spent on understanding the genetics and pathological characterization of Alzheimer’s disease,” said P. Murali Doraiswamy, MBBS, FRCP, a professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at Duke University’s Read More
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A researcher holds a flask containing human cerebral organoids similar to those used in the CWD study. Credit: NIAID A new study of prion diseases, using a human cerebral organoid model, suggests there is a substantial species barrier preventing transmission of chronic wasting disease (CWD) from cervids—deer, elk and moose—to people. The findings, from National Institutes of Health scientists and published in Emerging Infectious Diseases, are consistent with decades of similar research in animal models at the NIH’s National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID). Prion diseases are degenerative Read More
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The American Gastroenterological Association’s (AGA) new evidence-based Clinical Practice Guideline on Endoscopic Eradication Therapy of Barrett’s Esophagus and Related Neoplasia, published today in Gastroenterology, establishes updated guidance for Barrett’s esophagus patients. A precursor to esophageal cancer, Barrett’s esophagus is a condition in which the cells in the esophagus have been replaced with non-cancerous abnormal cells. These cells can progress to a condition called dysplasia, which may in turn become cancer. Dysplasia is considered low-grade or high-grade, depending on the degree of cellular change. “While the benefit is clear for patients Read More
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Subjective disgust experience is associated with and predicted by distributed brain regions. a, Thresholded VIDS. b, Thresholded transformed VIDS ‘activation pattern’. c, The conjunction between VIDS and transformed ‘activation pattern’. Images thresholded at q?<?0.05, FDR corrected. Hot colour indicates positive weights (a) or associations (b), whereas cold colour indicates negative weights (a) or associations (b). Credit: Nature Human Behaviour (2024). DOI: 10.1038/s41562-024-01868-x Disgust is one of the six basic human emotions, along with happiness, sadness, fear, anger, and surprise. Disgust typically arises when a person perceives a sensory stimulus or Read More
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Stroke is the leading cause of disability worldwide and the second leading cause of death, but the right early intervention can prevent severe consequences. A new study led by investigators from Brigham and Women’s Hospital and collaborators describes how the team developed a new test by combining blood-based biomarkers with a clinical score to identify patients experiencing large vessel occlusion (LVO) stroke with high accuracy. The results are published in the journal Stroke: Vascular and Interventional Neurology. “We have developed a game-changing, accessible tool that could help ensure that more Read More
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For patients with binge eating disorder (BED), a web-based cognitive behavioral self-help intervention leads to significant reductions in binge eating episodes and improvements in mental health outcomes, according to a study published online May 16 in JAMA Network Open. Luise Pruessner, from Heidelberg University in Germany, and colleagues examined the effectiveness of a web-based cognitive behavioral self-help intervention for individuals with BED in a two-arm, parallel-group randomized clinical trial. A total of 154 patients aged 18 to 65 years who met the diagnostic criteria for BED were enrolled and randomly Read More
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It’s a right of passage into Mike Locksley’s Maryland football program to participate in the ‘3 H’s’ meeting. Newcomers stand before teammates, coaches and staff to share about their hero, a highlight of their life and a hardship. It’s one of a few crucial Terps mental health touchpoints. Head coach always goes first. By Locksley opening his heart, he’s creating a space for shared vulnerability where others can see, “Coach has got some things he’s really proud of,” he said, “but also, he’s faced some tough times.” Personal tragedy forged Read More
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Credit: Cell Reports Methods (2024). DOI: 10.1016/j.crmeth.2024.100777 A team of medical researchers at the National Children’s Medical Center, Children’s Hospital, Fudan University, in China, has developed a technique to freeze and thaw brain tissue without causing damage. In their study, published in the journal Cell Reports Methods, the group tested bathing brain organoid tissue in candidate chemicals before freezing them using liquid nitrogen. Prior research has shown that no matter how quickly brain matter is frozen, the freezing and thawing process always causes tissue damage. This has made it more Read More
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A schematic overview of the study and a graphic explanation of the static and dynamic r factor scores. Mental well-being is measured with 45 items on six clinical domains, that is, anxiety, depression, PTSD, impulsivity, sleep and alcohol and nicotine use. Credit: Nature Mental Health (2024). DOI: 10.1038/s44220-024-00242-0 Following traumatic experiences, many individuals demonstrate remarkable resilience, recovering their mental and behavioral well-being without external intervention. An Emory University-led study, in collaboration with the University of North Carolina School of Medicine and other sites, is improving the understanding of how some Read More
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A petri dish holding microporous scaffold implants. Credit: Michele Santillan A new microporous scaffold functions as a minimally-invasive surveillance method to identify rejection prior to graft injury in a mouse model, according to a study published in Science Advances. These sensors are a first step towards developing a tool which could provide physicians with vital early information about the possibility of organ rejection in transplant patients. Solid organ transplantation is associated with aggressive immunosuppression to prevent graft rejection. However, over suppression can increase the risk of neoplasia and opportunistic infections, Read More
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Graphical abstract. Journal of Clinical Investigation (2024) https://doi.org/10.1172/JCI173789 A study from the laboratory of Shi-Yuan Cheng, Ph.D., professor in the Ken and Ruth Davee Department of Neurology’s Division of Neuro-oncology, has identified novel mechanisms underlying RNA splicing events within glioma tumor cells, mechanisms which may serve as novel therapeutic targets, according to findings published in the Journal of Clinical Investigation. “We found another way to treat glioma through the alternative splicing perspective, and we found some novel targets which have not been identified before but are important for glioma malignancy,” Read More
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A significant link between the use of electronic cigarettes and earlier age of asthma onset in U.S. adults was reported by UTHealth Houston researchers May 17, 2024 in JAMA Network Open. Led by first author Adriana Pérez, Ph.D., MS, professor of biostatistics and data science at UTHealth Houston School of Public Health, the research found that adults who were asthma-free at the beginning of the study and reported e-cigarette use in the past 30 days increased their risk of developing earlier age of asthma onset by 252%. “While previous studies Read More
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Rutgers researchers, aided by international collaborators, have tracked the devastation war has made on Ukraine’s hospital system. Hundreds of hospitals in Ukraine have been forced to close or operate at a reduced capacity since Russia’s invasion of the Eastern European country in February 2022. Damage, destruction and supply shortages caused by the war have impaired the nation’s hospital system and taken a serious toll on human health. In a study published in JAMA, Rutgers researchers and collaborators from the United States, Pakistan and Ukraine collected and compared data on hospital Read More
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An HIV vaccine candidate developed at the Duke Human Vaccine Institute triggered low levels of an elusive type of broadly neutralizing HIV antibodies among a small group of people enrolled in a 2019 clinical trial. The finding, reported May 17 in the journal Cell, not only provides proof that a vaccine can elicit these antibodies to fight diverse strains of HIV, but that it can also initiate the process within weeks, setting in motion an essential immune response. The vaccine candidate targets an area on the HIV-1 outer envelope called Read More
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Men are at greater risk than women of the major health effects of diabetes (types 1 and 2), proposes a long term study published online in the Journal of Epidemiology & Community Health. Rates of cardiovascular disease, leg, foot, and kidney complications, and the sight-threatening eye disease diabetic retinopathy are all higher in men, regardless of whether they had diabetes for more or less than 10 years, the findings show. The global prevalence of diabetes is similar in men and women, and is projected to rise to 783 million by Read More
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The latest findings from the Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries, and Risk Factors Study (GBD) 2021, published in The Lancet, provide new insights into health challenges and the risk factors that are driving them. An increase in people experiencing risk factors associated with metabolism, such as high systolic blood pressure (SBP), high fasting plasma glucose (FPG), high body mass index (BMI), high LDL cholesterol, and kidney dysfunction, demonstrates the consequences of an aging population and changing lifestyles on a global scale. According to the study, there was a 49.4% increase Read More