Health & Fitness

Hunger can drive a motivational state that leads an animal to a successful pursuit of a goal -- foraging for and finding food. In a highly novel study, researchers describe how two major neuronal subpopulations in a part of the brain's thalamus called the paraventricular nucleus participate in the dynamic regulation of goal pursuits. This research provides insight into the mechanisms by which the brain tracks motivational states to shape instrumental actions.

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Research has found a less expensive and easier to use test to learn more about forensic touch DNA. This research has important implications for forensic investigations and being able to identify DNA from a primary contact -- someone who may have committed the crime -- as well as secondary DNA that was inadvertently and indirectly transferred through touch.

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It is known that large amounts of licorice cause high blood pressure. A new study now shows that even small amounts of licorice raise blood pressure. The individuals who react most strongly also show signs of strain on the heart.

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Dartmouth researchers tracked more than 200 undergraduates for all four years of college to capture the most in-depth data yet on how students' self-esteem and mental health fluctuates during their years in academia. The researchers identify key populations and stressors they say administrators could target to improve student well-being. The study -- conducted from 2017 to 2022 -- also provides among the first real-time accounts of how the coronavirus pandemic affected students and resulted in long-lasting behavioral changes that persisted even as the pandemic diminished.

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More than a third of people who self-identify as having a smell disorder have had at least one gas safety scare in the last five years, according to new research.

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Cells possess an innate immune system that defends against invasive pathogens. Previous studies have mapped out the cytoplasmic cGAS-STING pathway in the cytoplasm, known for responding to foreign nucleic acids. The Fusion Visualization system 2 cell line was developed to visualize cellular nuclei with chromosome fusion and resulting micronuclei. Using FuVis2, researchers examined whether micronuclei influence the cGAS-STING response in live cells.

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Researchers have highlighted the importance of continued surveillance of emerging SARS-CoV-2 variants and vaccine performance as the virus continues to evolve.

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