This narrative review examines radium from its discovery through its current, limited medical uses. It describes human health risks linked with exposure, while noting that some radium isotopes are used in selected cancer treatments. The review is not a new study of patients and does not establish the effectiveness of any treatment.
A study tested nano-hydroxyapatite, a calcium-and-phosphorus mineral, as a leaf spray for phosphorus-deficient barley. The particles released phosphorus gradually, but uptake varied with plant species, humidity and spray properties.
This human-health systematic review and meta-analysis examined outcomes after minimally invasive liver surgery in 12,892 patients, including 5,658 with cirrhosis. Cirrhosis was associated with higher rates of blood transfusion during surgery, conversion to open surgery, complications within 90 days, and death within 90 days, although the researchers said serious risk of bias limits confidence in these findings.
A study of tropical soils found that microbial communities, calcium and soil acidity were linked to suppression of the crop pathogen Ceratocystis paradoxa. In experiments, calcium carbonate strengthened suppression, particularly at pH 7.0, and worked with microbes transferred from suppressive soils.
Researchers confirmed two bat species on Flores Island in the Azores, including Nyctalus azoreum, which had not previously been recorded there. Acoustic monitoring found that Pipistrellus maderensis was widespread, while N. azoreum was detected at only a few sites and showed very low activity.
Women’s empowerment in Nigeria varied with region of residence and migration status, alongside education and ethnicity, a study of national survey data found. The analysis examined household and financial decisions, sexual rights and attitudes toward or experiences of wife beating.
A study tracking eight male crickets across their adult lives found that calling changed with age and declined as sleep-like behavior increased. Movement also varied across life stages and times of day, rather than showing a simple overall decline.
Researchers developed a quantum method for the maximum cut problem and proved a stronger worst-case guarantee than a three-round version of a widely used approach. On IBM quantum devices with 72 and 148 qubits, the method exceeded a known classical hardness threshold, while the comparison method did not do so in the 148-qubit test.
A review examines drugs that target CD38, a molecule found in large amounts on the cells that make antibodies. Early clinical evidence suggests these treatments may help some people with severe autoimmune disease, especially lupus nephritis and immune thrombocytopenia, but the studies so far are small and varied.
Researchers combined results from 20 randomized trials involving 2,868 patients who had distal pancreatectomy, an operation that removes part of the pancreas. Reinforced staplers were associated with fewer clinically important pancreatic fistulas than suture-based closure, while patch techniques were associated with fewer abdominal fluid collections.
Researchers used an AI image-recognition system to identify benthic foraminifera, tiny seafloor organisms used to assess ecosystem quality. It identified species and, in one low-diversity setting, whether specimens were living or dead, reaching up to 94.2% accuracy.
Adding calcium oxide to Los Angeles Harbor water lowered particulate organic carbon and dissolved oxygen when alkalinity rose by about 1,000 micromoles per kilogram. Smaller alkalinity increases, and other tested additions, produced no statistically significant changes in calcium carbonate precipitation or organic carbon partitioning over four days.
Researchers analyzed human genetic data from large European-ancestry studies to examine whether diabetes, alcohol intake, obesity-related traits, or smoking might affect the risk of Dupuytren’s disease. Genetic liability for diabetes and higher genetically predicted alcohol intake were associated with a slightly higher risk, while obesity traits and smoking intensity showed no convincing association.
A new article argues that migration management is entering a phase in which state action and profit-making are closely connected across public, private and nonprofit sectors. It examines how systems for managing migrants can also support the accumulation of capital, within what the authors describe as a politics of dehumanization.
In laboratory experiments, yoghurt, tomatoes and several other Mediterranean foods reduced DNA damage caused by extracts of very fine air-pollution particles. The findings come from bacteria and human cell lines, so they do not yet show that eating these foods protects people from air pollution.
