Browse Articles

The effects of cochineal and Allura Red AC dyes on Escherichia coli and Bacillus coagulans growth

Palmatier et al. | Jun 29, 2025

The effects of cochineal and Allura Red AC dyes on <i>Escherichia coli</i> and <i>Bacillus coagulans</i> growth

Here the authors aimed to compare the effects of artificial Allura Red AC dye and natural cochineal dye on the growth of Escherichia coli and Bacillus coagulans bacteria. Their research found that only Allura Red AC dye significantly affected bacterial growth, specifically amplifying E. coli growth. Based on their results, they suggest that Allura Red AC dye may increase the growth of E. coli bacteria within the human gut.

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Forecasting air quality index: A statistical machine learning and deep learning approach

Pasula et al. | Feb 17, 2025

Forecasting air quality index: A statistical machine learning and deep learning approach
Image credit: Amir Hosseini

Here the authors investigated air quality forecasting in India, comparing traditional time series models like SARIMA with deep learning models like LSTM. The research found that SARIMA models, which capture seasonal variations, outperform LSTM models in predicting Air Quality Index (AQI) levels across multiple Indian cities, supporting the hypothesis that simpler models can be more effective for this specific task.

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Obscurity of eyebrows influences recognition of human emotion and impacts older adolescents

Zhang et al. | Jan 20, 2025

Obscurity of eyebrows influences recognition of human emotion and impacts older adolescents
Image credit: Ernesto Norman

Here, seeking to better understand how facial features provide important visual cues to help convey emotions, the authors evaluated the accuracy and reaction time of participants in regards to experimental photographs where a person's eyebrows were obscured and ones where they were not. Their findings revealed that removing eyebrows resulted in a significant decrease in a participant's ability to recognize anger, with adolescents most likely to misidentify emotions.

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Correlation between particulate matter concentrations and COPD hospitalization rates in Massachusetts

Ganeshwaran et al. | Dec 30, 2024

Correlation between particulate matter concentrations and COPD hospitalization rates in Massachusetts
Image credit: The authors

Air pollution is thought to increase the prevalence of health conditions like chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Ganeshwaran and Ropiak investigate this relationship by determining whether there is a correlation between between one type of air pollution (fine particulate matter concentrations) and COPD hospitalization rates in Massachusetts.

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The effect of bioenhancers on ampicillin-sulbactam as a treatment against A. baumannii

Balaji et al. | Sep 21, 2024

The effect of bioenhancers on ampicillin-sulbactam as a treatment against <i>A. baumannii<i>

This article explores the potential of piperine, a bioenhancer from black pepper, to improve antibiotic efficacy against antibiotic-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii. By combining piperine with ampicillin-sulbactam, the study demonstrated a significant reduction in bacterial growth for most strains tested, showcasing the promise of bioenhancers in combating resistant pathogens. This research highlights the possibility of reducing the required antibiotic dosage, potentially offering a new strategy in the fight against drug-resistant bacteria.

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Trust in the use of artificial intelligence technology for treatment planning

Srivastava et al. | Sep 18, 2024

Trust in the use of artificial intelligence technology for treatment planning

As AI becomes more integrated into healthcare, public trust in AI-developed treatment plans remains a concern, especially for emotionally charged health decisions. In a study of 81 community college students, AI-created treatment plans received lower trust ratings compared to physician-developed plans, supporting the hypothesis. The study found no significant differences in AI trust levels across demographic factors, suggesting overall skepticism toward AI-driven healthcare.

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Effects of urban traffic noise on the early growth and transcription of Arabidopsis thaliana

Kim et al. | Sep 18, 2024

Effects of urban traffic noise on the early growth and transcription of <i>Arabidopsis thaliana<i>

This article explores the largely unstudied impact of noise pollution on plant life. By exposing Arabidopsis thaliana seedlings to urban traffic noise, the study found a significant increase in seedling growth, alongside substantial changes in gene expression. This research reveals critical insights into how noise pollution affects plant physiology and contributes to a broader understanding of its ecological impacts, helping to guide future efforts in ecosystem conservation.

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