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Science, Ahead of Print.

Without intervention, NSF could fully close the Social, Behavioral and Economic Sciences Directorate in a month

Scientists have discovered that pantethine, a readily available vitamin B5 derivative, can calm overactive immune cells and may help fight psoriasis. The supplement prevented psoriasis in mice and showed promising results in a small human trial, revealing an unexpected connection between cholesterol and autoimmune inflammation.

Scientists have discovered that gut bacteria can feed on the protective mucus lining your intestines, producing potentially harmful compounds, but fiber helps keep this activity in check. Overlooked proteins in plant foods also help shift gut bacteria toward producing beneficial substances, revealing a surprising new reason plant-based diets may be good for you.

Vascular endothelial cell (VEC) senescence is a key contributor to vascular aging and atherosclerosis. Increasing evidence suggests that long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) can encode functional micropeptides involved in cellular regulation. In this study, we investigated whether 17β-estradiol (17β-E2) delays endothelial senescence through an lncRNA-encoded peptide associated with autophagy. RNA sequencing was performed in H(2)O(2)-induced senescent human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs)...

The motion of liquid droplets on solid surfaces is commonly described by contact-line friction, which is generally assumed to increase monotonically with instantaneous velocity. However, such a velocity-only description cannot explain why static droplet friction can exceed dynamic friction or why contact-line friction can become velocity-weakening. Here, we demonstrate that contact-line friction depends jointly on sliding velocity and contact history. Using self-assembled alkylsilane monolayers...

Most vertebrates and insects undergo senescence: as they age, their rate of mortality increases while reproduction declines. We present data from a 34-y study on 3,285 colonies of known age in the western harvester ant, Pogonomyrmex occidentalis, that show the reverse pattern, negative senescence, in which mortality decreases and reproduction increases with age. Theoretical models have identified indeterminate growth and a lack of reproductive cost to growth as the key traits favoring the...

Blood-brain barrier (BBB) dysfunction is an early feature of brain aging, but the endothelial mechanisms preserving barrier resilience remain unclear. Although we have reported α-synuclein (SNCA) supports vascular endothelial homeostasis, its role in the brain microvascular endothelium is unknown. Because SNCA loss suppresses eNOS/NO signaling and promotes endothelial β-site amyloid precursor protein cleaving enzyme 1 (BACE1) induction, we investigated whether senescence-associated SNCA decline...

After more than 35 years of research, scientists have uncovered surprising clues about what really drives Lyme disease risk. Contrary to longstanding assumptions, deer populations appear less important than mice, which can fuel a 40% increase in tick numbers the following year. Even acorn production can predict tick population surges two years in advance, while extreme temperatures may be far less deadly to ticks than scientists once believed.

A surprising new study from UCLA suggests that a naturally occurring molecule could help breast cancer survivors overcome the frustrating brain fog and exhaustion that can linger long after treatment ends. Researchers found that women taking an oxaloacetate supplement for eight weeks experienced substantial improvements in memory, concentration, mental clarity, and fatigue.

New findings demonstrate AI’s aptitude for identifying technical flaws in studies where medical decisions are on the line