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Malaysia registers first hepatitis C treatment developed through South-South cooperation
New treatment combination for hepatitis C virus (HCV) is an additional affordable option for millions still waiting for access to lifesaving treatments in middle-income countries. Combination is safe and effective, including for hard-to-treat cases and people with HCV and HIV. New drug ravidasvir is the first HCV drug to be developed through South-South collaboration and with support from non-profit organizations.
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Trees, plants and soil could help cities cut their carbon footprints -- when used smartly
Carbon footprint declarations are used in construction to ease product selection for low carbon building, but these standards don't yet exist for green elements like soil, bushes and plants. A new study led by Aalto University is the first to map out how green infrastructure can be a resource for cities on the path to carbon neutrality.
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New research shine light on perovskite solar cell performance
New research has revealed defects in a popular perovskite light absorber that impede solar cell performance. This discovery could lead to improved solar cell technology and provide another step towards reducing the use of fossil fuels for energy.
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Gaps to fill: Income, education may impact inequalities in seeking dental care
A University of Tsukuba study examined a massive national claims dataset in search of regional and socioeconomic inequalities in the use of dental care services in Japan. This examination of millions of pieces of data found periodontal care and outreach services showed the widest regional inequalities. People in areas with lower education and income were more likely to seek treatment after dental diseases progress. More clinics and higher education and incomes correlated with earlier treatment.
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A step closer to a hydrogen-fuelled economy using an efficient anode for water splitting
Researchers from Niigata University, Japan along with their collaborators from Yamagata University have developed a novel and highly efficient nickel sulphide nanowires/carbon nitride based anode for electrocatalytic water splitting applications. The nickel sulphide based anode material has aided in drastically reducing the overpotential of the oxygen evolution reaction. This study holds immense potential to enhance the generation of hydrogen fuel which is pursued as a promising alternative to the depleting carbon based fuels.
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Domesticated foxes display increased size in brain regions
By analyzing MRI scans of the foxes, Hecht and her colleagues showed that both the foxes bred to be tame and those bred for aggression have larger brains and more grey matter than the brain of the control group (the foxes not bred for any particular behavior). These findings run in contrast to studies on other animals that have shown domesticated species have smaller brains with less grey matter, than their wild forebears.
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Breeding foxes for opposite behaviors produces similar brain changes
Farmed foxes selectively bred for tameness and aggressiveness exhibit similar changes to their brain anatomy, according to research recently published in JNeurosci. Both lineages also have larger brains than conventional farm-bred foxes, complicating leading theories on domestication.
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Scientists expose the cold heart of landfalling hurricanes
Fearsome and powerful, hurricanes can wreak massive destruction when they hit land. But while most hurricanes then weaken, others can strengthen again into extratropical cyclones and caused further damage inland. Now, researchers at the Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology Graduate University have used simulations to uncover the presence of a cold core inside decaying hurricanes - an unexpected discovery that could help forecasters predict the level of extreme weather that communities farther inland may face.
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Two decade analysis of African neuroscience research prompts calls for greater support
A team of neuroscientists are calling for greater support of neuroscience research in Africa to combat 'brain drain' following a long-term analysis of research outputs in the continent.
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High genetic running capacity promotes efficient metabolism with aging
High running capacity is associated with health and longevity. However, whether high genetic running capacity promotes more efficient metabolism with aging is not known. A new study reveals that adipose tissue may have a key role in healthy aging.
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Easy, inexpensive, efficient: Researchers improve efficacy of new malaria drug
Artemisone is a promising substance in the fight against malaria. However, the active ingredient has yet to be used due its instability and because it is not easily absorbed by the body. A team from Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg (MLU) and the Hebrew University of Jerusalem has now pushed this a bit further. They have developed a very simple method for preparing the active ingredient that makes it easier to administer and store.
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Many prolonged sick leaves for COVID-19
Nearly 12,000 people in Sweden received sickness benefit from the Swedish Social Insurance Agency for COVID-19 during the first wave of the pandemic. The median duration of sick leave in this group was 35 days, but for many it was considerably more long-drawn-out, according to a University of Gothenburg study.
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Hair follicles heal blisters at personal cost
A team of scientists has shown that the healing of skin blisters is driven by hair follicle stem cells, which delay their own development in the process.
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NUS study: Too many forewing eyespots is bad for butterflies
A recent research by biologists from the National University of Singapore (NUS) sought to understand the impact of uneven distribution of eyespots on butterflies. The team, led by Professor Antónia Monteiro from the NUS Department of Biological Sciences, found that the location of these eyespots is key to their protective function.
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One step towards a daily-use deep UV light source for sterilization and disinfection
Osaka University researchers invented a more efficient device for doubling the frequency of incoming light by combining period reflectors inside a microcavity containing gallium nitride. This work may help in the construction of a deep UV light source with bactericidal effect that is both safe and practical.
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New theranostic approach joins radiopharmaceuticals and nanoparticles to kill cancer cells
Researchers have successfully developed a novel cancer treatment approach that utilizes Cerenkov radiation energy to target and destroy cancer cells more effectively. The approach uses light from decaying radiopharmaceuticals, known as Cerenkov luminescence, as an energy source to activate semiconducting polymer nanoparticles that kill cancer cells. This research was presented at the Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging's 2021 Virtual Annual Meeting.
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A new model of Alzheimer's progression
Diego Mastroeni of the NDRC teamed up Forest White and Douglas Lauffenburger, to explore how protein and signaling pathways change in patients with Alzheimer's disease. Their work creates a new model of disease progression, taking advantage of the heterogeneity that is inherent to human studies.
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Consumers will pay more for ready-to-eat meals made with fewer ingredients
New WSU research shows many consumers are willing to pay a premium for ready-to-eat meals with a 'clean label' showing few ingredients. They are also more willing to fork out their hard-earned cash when they know their processed foods are made with a new technology that helps limit the number of additives and preservatives commonly found in most ready-to-eat meals.
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Touchless technology could enable early detection and treatment of eye diseases that cause blindness
A new non-contact laser imaging system developed by engineering researchers at the University of Waterloo, is designed to detect telltale signs of major blinding diseases in retinal blood and tissue that typically go unseen until it is too late.
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USC study reveals potential new treatment target for Alzheimer's disease
A new USC study not only sheds light on how the APOE4 gene may cause some of the pathologies associated with Alzheimer's disease, but also suggests a new treatment target that might help people who carry the APOE4 gene in early and late stages of the disease. USC researchers found that APOE4 is associated with the activation of an inflammatory protein that causes a breakdown in the blood-brain barrier which protects the brain.
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