Eurekalert

New research from the Clemson University Center for Human Genetics has identified specific cell clusters in the brain of the common fruit fly affected by acute cocaine exposure, potentially laying the groundwork for the development of drugs to treat or prevent addiction in humans.

Lack of oxygen, which is harmful to the brain, causes hydrogen sulfide "sewer gas" to accumulate in the brain. The brains of lab animals repeatedly exposed to hydrogen sulfide became tolerant to the gas and lack of oxygen. Researchers identified the mechanism that induces this tolerance, which could lead to new treatments for brain injuries caused by oxygen deprivation.

Underground coal seams engulfed in a fire are not a very pleasant place to live. Nevertheless, Russian scientists, while examining the quarries of the Kemerovo region, showed that microorganisms also live there. They are similar to those that inhabit hot springs and other harsh habitats and are capable of metabolizing carbon monoxide, hydrogen, nitrates, and other compounds that are often hazardous to humans.

A research group at São Paulo State University (UNESP) analyzed how Candida albicans fungi and Staphylococcus aureus bacteria influence gene expression and tumor cell survival.

In a new paper, scientists from La Jolla Institute for Immunology (LJI) bring together research findings from COVID-19 researchers around the world. The results are striking: human T cells can target more than 1,400 sites on the SARS-CoV-2 virus.

Researchers from Osaka University have demonstrated that two signaling pathways, the PI3K and the Hippo pathways earlier implicated in the development of pancreatic cancer, are responsible for the development and progression of chronic pancreatitis. Experiments in animal models, corroboration by laboratory evidence, and studies of human diseased tissue suggest that targeting pathologically upregulated Connective Tissue Growth Factor (CTGF) may be a useful therapeutic strategy against this disease.

Despite concerns that remote learning would drive at-risk college students away, some students' motivation and interest in their studies increased during the pandemic, according to a study of underrepresented students in a biology course by researchers at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign.

For the first time, biologists have fully characterized the light-sensitive proteins of the phytochrome family from the common model plant Arabidopsis thaliana on a biochemical level. The scientists also extended that characterization into the phytochromes of two important food crops: corn and potatoes. Instead of finding that all phytochrome isoforms are identical, they found surprising differences.

A team of scientists from Germany developed the cameras for an astronomical instrument built to perform all-sky surveys in the x-ray wavelength regime. In their recently published paper, they highlight the features of the cameras, a key part of a telescope called eROSITA, describing the hardware development and ground testing, and report the performance aboard the satellite, opening doors to a deeper understanding of our cosmos.

Childhood abuse and trauma are linked to many health issues in adulthood. New research from the University of Georgia suggests that a history of childhood mistreatment could have negative ramifications for the children of people who experienced abuse or neglect in childhood.

In work that could one day help athletes as well as aging adults regenerate tissue more effectively, Salk scientists increased the regeneration of muscle cells in mice by activating the precursors of muscle cells.

Largest-ever study of viral load levels in patients with SARS-CoV-2: Researchers from Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin have analyzed the PCR samples of more than 25,000 persons with COVID-19. The team determined the viral loads of each individual sample and used their results to estimate levels of infectiousness. The research, which has been published in Science*, provides a clear idea of the infectiousness of the disease in different age groups and at different levels of disease severity.

Fusarium Head Blight is caused by a fungus that produces heat-stable trichothecene mycotoxins, which help the disease spread. To stop the spread, plant breeders are working to develop cultivars with improved resistance to FHB. A team of plant pathologists primarily based at Rutgers University recently generated wheat overexpressing two non-specific lipid transfer proteins and found that this enhanced protection against the fungus and led to a reduction of one of the major mycotoxins.

Researchers know cosmic rays originate from the multitude of stars in the Milky Way and other galaxies. The difficulty is tracing the particles to specific sources, because the turbulence of interstellar gas, plasma, and dust causes them to scatter and rescatter in different directions. In AIP Advances, researchers developed a simulation model to better understand these and other cosmic ray transport characteristics, with the goal of developing algorithms to enhance existing detection techniques.

Much of the conversation around COVID-19 focuses on death and survival. But 45% of patients hospitalized for the virus at Michigan Medicine during the pandemic's first wave experienced significant functional decline. Nearly 20% were discharged to a location other than their home. Researchers say this information highlights the true impact of COVID-19.

With a global impetus toward utilizing more renewable energy sources, wind presents a promising, increasingly tapped resource. Despite the many technological advancements made in upgrading wind-powered systems, a systematic and reliable way to assess competing technologies has been a challenge. Researchers at Texas A&M University, in collaboration with international energy industry partners, have used advanced data science methods and ideas from the social sciences to compare the performance of different wind turbine designs.

Swedish and Danish journalists describe their role as monitorial to a greater extent than journalists from other Nordic countries. Journalists from Norway and Iceland state they have the least experience of political influence and thus differ from Finnish journalists. This is shown by a new comparative study published by Nordicom at the University of Gothenburg.

An international and multidisciplinary team led by researchers at the University of Oxford, University of Glasgow, and University of Heidelberg, has uncovered the interactions that SARS-CoV-2 RNA establishes with the host cell, many of which are fundamental for infection. These discoveries pave the way for the development of new therapeutic strategies for COVID-19 with broad-range antiviral potential.

The research team of Gero, a Singapore-based biotech company in collaboration with Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center in Buffalo NY, announces a publication in Nature Communications, a journal of Nature portfolio, presenting the results of the study on associations between aging and the loss of the ability to recover from stresses.

A new study from Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis suggests that, among men, low testosterone levels in the blood are linked to more severe COVID-19. The study contradicts widespread assumptions that higher testosterone may explain why men, on average, develop more severe COVID-19 than women do.