With a new $2.3 million, four-year grant from the National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering, part of the National Institutes of Health, researchers at Virginia Tech’s Fralin Biomedical Research Institute at VTC are developing tools and techniques for gathering high-quality brain function data during during parent-child interactions.

New study examines the oral pathogen Porphyromonas gingivalis (Pg) and suggests its influence may extend beyond dental tissues. Researchers investigated whether Pg-driven periapical lesions, localized dental issues, can trigger wider metabolic disturbances through an IL-17–intense inflammatory response. Using sham-controlled mouse models without oral colonization, the researchers compared mice with and without Pg colonization to assess how IL-17 drives both tissue damage and impaired glucose regulation. The study examines whether chronic periapical infections subtly shape metabolic health and whether targeting IL-17 could offer unexpected systemic benefits.

The first study to examine the extent of European ancestry biases in gene maps reveals tens of thousands of genetic instructions in people from populations in Africa, Asia and the Americas that have been invisble to date, including possible products of entirely new genes yet to be discovered. Some of the new transcripts belong to genes already linked to conditions that differ between ancestries, leaving potentially important insights into disease risk hidden from view and highlighting inequity in genomics research.

This study systematically evaluated the potential of red rice extract as a biological ultraviolet (UV) filter and, for the first time, comprehensively validated its UV absorption characteristics, antioxidant properties, and SPF-enhancing effects in sunscreen formulations. Rich in phenolic acids, flavonoids, anthocyanins, and procyanidins, red rice extract demonstrated strong UV-absorbing capacity and free radical scavenging activity, indicating its ability to counteract UV-induced oxidative stress and inflammation.Comparative UV absorption analysis showed that the extract exhibited stable absorption peaks and favorable photothermal stability relative to three commonly used UV filters. When incorporated into oil-in-water (O/W) and water-in-oil (W/O) sunscreen formulations, red rice extract produced concentration-dependent SPF enhancement. Notably, adding 1% extract increased SPF values by more than 10% in both systems.

Importantly, the extract also showed the potential to partially replace traditional chemical UV filters. Formulations containing 1%, 3%, and 5% red rice extract were able to substitute approximately 12.82%, 19.05%, and 26.09% of chemical UV filters, respectively, without compromising SPF performance.

Overall, this work highlights red rice extract as a promising natural UV-filtering ingredient capable of boosting SPF efficacy while reducing chemical filter usage. The findings provide scientific support for its application in developing mild, safe, and environmentally friendly sunscreen products.

Kyoto, Japan -- Shisei Tei claims he is clumsy with technology and doesn't even own a smartphone, yet he has found himself thinking a lot about what we call generative AI.

Tei is cautious rather than optimistic about AI. As a researcher, he uses it to help with analyzing psychiatric data, and outside work it helps him plan personalized hikes. But Tei is concerned that AI will change how we think about death, which he discusses in a chapter he wrote for the book SecondDeath: Experiences of Death Across Technologies.

"Today, I often see how AI reframes grief and remembrance," says Tei. Though he thinks mental health chatbots have the potential to lower barriers to care, maladaptive use of chatbots that reconstruct deceased individuals can distort our perceptions of death and existence.

In-flight cardiac arrest is extremely rare, yet catastrophic, and responsible for up to 86% of all deaths in the air. A new comprehensive literature review highlights systemic and policy shortcomings of current aviation safety standards, calling for global alignment. Recommendations include regulated and mandated automated external defibrillators (AEDs) on board, standardized cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) protocols training, and integration of telemedicine. The article in the Canadian Journal of Cardiology, published by Elsevier, aims to inform policy regulators, airlines, and international aviation bodies to improve in-flight medical emergency preparedness and response protocols.