All Asia & Oceania articles – Page 8
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NewsPig farm ammonia pollution may indirectly accelerate climate warming, new study finds
A new study shows that ammonia released from intensive livestock farms can significantly increase nearby soil emissions of nitrous oxide, a powerful greenhouse gas that contributes to climate change and ozone depletion.
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NewsScientists identify more effective way to detect poultry viruses in live markets
Scientists have found that viruses circulating in live poultry markets can be detected more effectively by sampling the surrounding environment than by testing individual birds. The study shows that environmental sampling can uncover a broader range of poultry viruses.
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NewsModified biochar helps compost retain nitrogen and build richer soil organic matter
A new study reports that specially engineered biochar can significantly improve compost quality by reducing nitrogen loss and accelerating the formation of stable humic substances. The findings offer a promising strategy for transforming organic waste into more effective fertilizers while lowering environmental emissions. Composting plays a critical ...
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NewsFrom gut to lung: A microbial signal that strengthens early immune defense
Researchers report that a gut microbiota–derived metabolite can directly shape immune responses in bacterial pneumonia. Using a Klebsiella pneumoniae infection model, the team demonstrated that butyric acid restores the function of CX3CR1-positive natural killer cells.
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NewsHow periodontitis-linked bacteria accelerate osteoporosis-like bone loss through the gut
Researchers reveal that salivary bacteria from gum disease alter gut metabolism, driving osteoclast activity and systemic bone loss. They analyzed salivary microbiota from individuals with advanced periodontitis and compared them with samples from periodontally healthy donors.
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NewsGut microbiome connected with heart disease precursor
Before the onset of cardiovascular disease symptoms, people often develop dyslipidemia, or abnormal levels of lipids in the blood. Microbiologists have identified microbial taxa more likely to be found in people with dyslipidemia than in people with healthy levels of cholesterol and triglycerides.
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NewsTargeting the gut–lung microbiome to reduce infections in severe pancreatitis
Researchers report new clinical evidence that a fungal probiotic may reduce hospital-acquired infections in patients with severe acute pancreatitis. Patients receiving Saccharomyces boulardii alongside standard enteral nutrition experienced significantly fewer infections than those receiving nutrition alone.
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NewsScientists develop shape-shifting scaffold that fights infection and rebuilds bone
Scientists have developed a body-temperature–responsive, 3D-printed shape-memory scaffold coated with a metal–polyphenol network to treat infectious bone defects. It is designed to adapt to irregular bone defects while providing antibacterial activity, immune regulation, and osteogenic support.
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NewsUnderground fungal map of the world’s oldest, slowest-growing rainforest trees can boost the resilience of Earth’s long-term carbon sinks
Protecting and conserving old trees will protect hundreds, if not thousands, of mycorrhizal and other fungal species that inhabit soils around these giants, each of which play a role we might not fully understand in keeping these forests healthy and resilient.
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NewsBiodegradable mulch isn’t disappearing as expected, new study warns
Scientists investigated how soybean roots influence the degradation of PBAT microplastics in soil. They tracked both polymer loss and monomer accumulation over a full 70-day plant growth cycle, revealing size-dependent and condition-specific rhizosphere effects.
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NewsA common CRISPR platform enables comparative studies of multicellularity in social amoebae
Researchers have established a CRISPR genome editing technique that enables comparative analysis of the evolution of multicellularity across different species of social amoebas (cellular slime molds). Until now, genetic studies had been largely restricted to a single model species.
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NewsTiny plastics, green solutions: How algae could help clean polluted waters
A new review examines how algae interact with microplastics in aquatic systems. Importantly, it highlights how their biological interactions could be harnessed to mitigate microplastic pollution, offering new perspectives for sustainable aquatic environmental management.
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NewsDiisobutyl phthalate at environmental concentration promotes conjugative transfer of antibiotic resistance genes
Researchers investigating the ecological safety risks posed by dibutyl phthalate (DBP), in aquatic environments found it significantly increased conjugative transfer frequency in both intragenus (E. coli DH5α to E. coli HB101) and intergenus (E. coli DH5α to B. subtilis WB100N) systems.
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NewsToxic algal bloom takes heavy toll on mental health
The year-long algal bloom along the South Australian coastline has not only devastated marine life and triggered health risks for humans and pets: it has also had a significant psychological impact on local residents, according to new research.
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News10 Years, 70% shift: Wastewater upgrades quietly transform river microbiomes
Researchers investigated how the upgrade of a WWTP influenced nitrogen-cycling microorganisms and DNA viruses in its receiving river. The research compared the river whose WWTP was upgraded during the study period against the river whose upgrade occurred prior to the study.
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NewsAlgal blooms: New AI algorithm enables scientific monitoring of ‘blue tears’
‘Blue tears’ chasing has become a popular tourism activity along coasts to witness the spectacular natural phenomenon. However, the occurrence and movement of algal blooms are unpredictable - but scientists have developed an innovative real-time video monitoring algorithm named BT-YOLO.
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NewsPeriphyton closes the nitrogen budget gap in rice paddies
Scientists identify a previously overlooked microbial N sink in rice paddies. Periphyton, a thin microbial community that develops at the soil–water interface, is composed of algae, bacteria, and extracellular polymeric substances, forming a dense microhabitat with strong capacities for nutrient uptake, transformation, and temporary storage.
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NewsEpigenetic rewiring fuels potato susceptibility to late blight
Scientists performed whole-genome bisulfite sequencing and RNA sequencing on the widely cultivated potato cultivar Qingshu No.9 following Phytophthora infestans infection, uncovering dynamic DNA methylation shifts that correlate with large-scale transcriptional reprogramming and immune suppression.
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NewsAkkermansia muciniphila PROBIO therapy promotes arginine biosynthesis and reverses reproductive impairments in polycystic ovary syndrome rats
A research study investigated the therapeutic potential of Akkermansia muciniphila PROBIO (AP) in a dehydroepiandrosterone-induced PCOS rat model, revealing significant improvements in reproductive and metabolic parameters through modulation of gut microbiota and enhancement of arginine biosynthesis.
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NewsEnhanced inner ear tropism of Adeno-Associated Virus (AAV) vectors via peptide display on AAV1 capsid
Researchers improving efficiacy of AAV)-mediated gene therapy for the inner ear screened and inserted short peptide motifs onto the surface of the AAV1 capsid. These engineered vectors achieved markedly higher transduction rates in inner ear hair cells and supporting cells.