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Abstract editorial illustration accompanying the article: New analysis identifies risk factors for chronic kidney disease after unilateral kidney removal
Health & Medicine
High evidenceReview

New analysis identifies risk factors for chronic kidney disease after unilateral kidney removal

Researchers systematically reviewed and pooled data from 26 adult cohort studies on developing chronic kidney disease (CKD) after unilateral nephrectomy. Among adults with preserved preoperative kidney function (eGFR ≥ 60 mL/min/1.73 m²), several baseline factors—such as older age and diabetes—and surgical approach were associated with higher odds of incident CKD.

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Abstract editorial illustration accompanying the article: Rain “pulses” after drought drive nitrogen gas spikes more than soil type
Biology

Rain “pulses” after drought drive nitrogen gas spikes more than soil type

Mediterranean dryland crops face cycles of drought and then sudden rain. In a year-long field experiment, researchers found that the biggest bursts of nitrogen pollution in the form of nitrous oxide and nitric oxide followed rewetting, especially when plants had been stressed by drought. Soil texture changed how much inorganic nitrogen built up, but it did not lead to proportionally larger gas spikes.

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Abstract editorial illustration accompanying the article: AI designs residential yards that better balance comfort, looks, access, and nature
Engineering & Technology

AI designs residential yards that better balance comfort, looks, access, and nature

A study in Scientific Reports describes an AI framework that generates different residential landscape layouts while explicitly weighing trade-offs among comfort, appearance, accessibility, and ecological value. Tested on three parcels in Changsha, China, the approach produced more diverse, realistic-looking morphologies and found optimized schemes that, on average, scored 6.2% above professional human benchmarks on a combined index.

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Abstract editorial illustration accompanying the article: Study finds blood inflammation markers did not reliably predict antifungal resistance in vaginal yeast infections
Health & Medicine
Low evidenceHuman study

Study finds blood inflammation markers did not reliably predict antifungal resistance in vaginal yeast infections

Researchers studied whether circulating inflammatory biomarkers in blood track with antifungal susceptibility in women with culture-confirmed vulvovaginal candidiasis. In this retrospective observational cohort of 163 adults, most blood marker levels did not differ between women with antifungal-resistant versus susceptible Candida isolates. Overall, the findings suggest these markers may not be a substitute for direct antifungal susceptibility testing in this localized infection.

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Abstract editorial illustration accompanying the article: India’s drought risk shifts across regions as warming rises, with new hotspot areas emerging
Climate & Environment

India’s drought risk shifts across regions as warming rises, with new hotspot areas emerging

A new analysis maps how drought hazard changes across India’s major farming regions under three global warming levels. It finds that large shares of land shift into higher drought-risk categories, and that some new high-risk areas appear. The work also notes that results depend on one climate model and should be read as directional guidance rather than forecasts.

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Abstract editorial illustration accompanying the article: Study suggests video game experience may be linked with better laparoscopic surgical task performance
Health & Medicine
High evidenceReview

Study suggests video game experience may be linked with better laparoscopic surgical task performance

This systematic review examined whether surgeons’ prior video game experience is associated with better surgical performance. Across 15 studies with 641 participants, the review found signals of improved performance mainly for laparoscopic tasks, particularly before structured training interventions. Evidence for other (nonlaparoscopic) surgical modalities was not found as meaningful.

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Abstract editorial illustration accompanying the article: Removing a key muscle-scar cell changes fat and scar after rotator cuff tears in mice
Biology

Removing a key muscle-scar cell changes fat and scar after rotator cuff tears in mice

A new study in mice tests what happens when fibroadipogenic progenitors—a cell type linked to both healing and degeneration—are depleted before injury. The approach reduced muscle scarring in both a rotator cuff tear model and a muscle tissue loss model, but only the rotator cuff tear model showed less fat buildup and better shoulder function.

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Abstract editorial illustration accompanying the article: Phone snubbing links to worse relationships and mental wellbeing
AI & Computing

Phone snubbing links to worse relationships and mental wellbeing

People who constantly check their phones during face-to-face conversations—often called “phubbing”—may be harming relationships and mental health. A systematic review of 22 studies links phubbing to lower relationship quality and outcomes such as loneliness and depression, with people’s perceptions of being snubbed playing a key role.

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