All Asia & Oceania articles – Page 12
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News
Low dose of hydroxychloroquine is associated with reduced COVID-19 mortality: study
A new study provides observational evidence that low-dose hydroxychloroquine is associated with reduced COVID-19 mortality in hospitalized patients, particularly those with severe illness, when administered within the first week of symptoms.
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New insights into divergent nitrogen fixation in subtropical forests
This study focuses on two primary forms of biological nitrogen fixation (BNF): symbiotic nitrogen fixation (SNF), which occurs within the root nodules of nitrogen-fixing plants, and asymbiotic nitrogen fixation (ANF), carried out by free-living microorganisms in soil and litter.
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Epidemiology, achievements, and challenges in the elimination of hepatitis B in China
A new review outlines China’s progress towards meeting the World Health Organization (WHO) hepatitis B virus 2030 elimination targets, identifies persistent gaps, and highlights strategies for achieving HBV elimination.
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Study reveals beneficial microbes that can sustain yields in unfertilized fields
Naturally occurring bacteria in rice roots could help reduce the reliance on chemical fertilizers for rice cultivation, paving the way for sustainable agriculture.
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News
Drones reveal extreme coral mortality after bleaching
New research has revealed alarming coral mortality rates of 92 per cent after last year’s bleaching event at Lizard Island on Queensland’s Great Barrier Reef, marking one of the highest coral mortality rates ever documented globally.
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News
HKU astrobiologist joins national effort to map out China’s Tianwen-3 Mars sample return mission
Professor Yiliang Li, a core member of the Tianwen-3 scientific team, is a co-author of a recently published perspective article outlining the mission’s objectives.
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News
World’s first AI system for single-tooth prediction of early childhood caries detection with over 90% accuracy
Scientists have developed the world’s first artificial intelligence (AI) system capable of predicting early childhood caries risk for individual teeth based on microbial characteristics, achieving an accuracy rate of over 90%.
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Study reveals engineered bacterial vesicles to combat antimicrobial resistance
Researchers studying extracellular vesicles (EVs)-membrane-bound nanoparticles released by cells that transport biologically active molecules like proteins or nucleic acids have engineered EVs derived from lactic acid bacteria to carry pathogen-specific endolysins on their surface.
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News
Vaccination support program reduces pneumonia-related mortality by 25 per cent among the elderly
Findings based on efforts in Sera Town, Japan showed the pneumococcal vaccination support program reversed the previously increasing trend in pneumonia mortality rate in the community.
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News
Review article highlights urgent need for aflatoxin control strategies in Pakistan’s feed supply chain
Scientists say there is an urgent need for aflatoxin control strategies in Pakistan’s feed supply chain to improve animal health, productivity, food safety and exports of animal-based products.
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News
The gut’s secret weapon: viruses that heal
A comprehensive new review reveals how gut viruses interact with gut bacteria and host immunity, highlighting their roles in conditions like inflammatory bowel disease, colorectal cancer, and C. difficile infection. The findings offer a compelling case for harnessing the virome in novel therapies to reshape gut ecology and restore health.
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News
New immunotherapy strategy targets difficult-to-treat brain tumors with gut microbiota
Researchers have demonstrated a new therapeutic strategy that can enhance the efficacy of immunotherapy for brain tumors by utilizing gut microbes and their metabolites. This also opens up possibilities for developing microbiome-based immunotherapy supplements in the future.
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News
Prebiotics might be a factor in preventing or treating issues caused by low brain GABA
Dietary prebiotics may induce an increase in brain GABA levels through the regulation of gut microbiota, which can be a major point for reducing or even treating these occurrences of certain neurological diseases in individuals.
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News
Rain showers can dramatically impact fungal communities in urban lakes
Rainfall can have dramatic effects on the microbial communities living in urban lakes, a new paper published in the Journal of Applied Microbiology reveals.
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Features
How artificial intelligence and machine learning are transforming agriculture’s future
Agriculture is at a pivotal moment in history, and the sector needs to adopt new ideas to survive and flourish. AI and Machine Learning are no longer futuristic concepts; they are transforming farming today and helping to solve problems that have persisted for a long time.
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News
New viruses discovered in bat kidneys in Yunnan province
The viruses, as well as new bacterial species and a new parasite, were discovered in bats inhabiting orchards near villages in southwestern China, raising concerns about transmission to livestock or humans.
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News
Antibiotics are failing in many countries in Africa, new study reveals
The largest retrospective study on resistance to antibiotics in Africa highlights the need for major investments to enhance laboratory capabilities and healthcare access.
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News
Can straw mulching affect soil CO2 emissions in bamboo forests?
Scientists have found that straw mulching in bamboo forests not only significantly increased soil carbon emissions in the short term but also had enduring effects that persisted for at least three years after the removal of the mulching material.
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News
Understanding inflammatory bowel disease: An integrative framework of microbiome, metabolome, and immunological biomarkers
A new review underscores the interconnected roles of microbial, metabolic, and immune biomarkers in IBD. While current biomarkers lack universal specificity, integrative approaches and AI-driven analyses offer transformative potential for precision medicine in IBD care.
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News
Coveted lac pigment may have a fungal origin
The colourful pigment extracted from the lac insect may actually be produced by a symbiotic yeast-like organism living inside the insect, a new study has found. The yeast-like organism exclusively harbours genes coding for key ingredients in the pigment synthesis pathway.