The first-known direct observations of the movement of microfiber plastics through a thin layer of soil-like particles show that they tend to tumble, roll and sometimes get stuck in spaces. The findings, reported in the journal, Water Resources Research, mean that the fibers could get easily trapped in sediment. The work helps to improve understanding of the exposure risks and possible health impacts of the pervasive pieces of plastic, which are the largest pollutant in the world by mass.

In a paper published today in American Educational Research Association Open, Sean Darling-Hammond, a UC Berkeley Assistant Professor, and Eric Ho, a statistician at the U.S. Department of Education, lay out the case that Black students across the country in K-12 education are experiencing scholastic punishment far more often than their peers. By looking across many types of punishment, student subpopulations, measures of disparity, and comparison groups, the authors arrive at the conclusion that, as the article title states, “No matter how you slice it, Black students are punished more.” They also find that while disparities are widespread, they are larger in some contexts than one might expect.

With the goal of  improving the number of life-saving kidney transplants, a new final rule issued by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services will test whether performance-based upside or downside risk payments among a selected subset of kidney transplant hospitals increase access to kidney transplants for patients with end-stage kidney disease while maintaining or improving the quality of care and reducing Medicare costs. Research studies conducted by Regenstrief Institute’s Rachel Patzer, PhD, MPH; Katie Ross-Driscoll, PhD, MPH; and Adam Wilk, PhD; were repeatedly cited throughout the CMS Final Rule, issued by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services on Nov. 26, 2024 and becomes effective July 1, 2025.

Driven by rapid advances in technology and the ever-growing influence of the digital landscape, the art of caring for the physical body and the digital world are becoming increasingly intertwined. The field of cosmetic dermatology is no exception.

 

“The marriage of innovation, social media and telehealth consultations has changed how patients perceive and seek beauty and how they engage with dermatologists,” says

corresponding author Neelam Vashi, MD, associate professor of dermatology at Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine. “Technology should serve as a means of empowerment, that celebrates individuality and authenticity, not distortion.”

 

Her editorial in the Journal of Clinical Medicine, explores how dermatologists must learn to harness the power of technology while upholding the core values of safety, ethics and patient satisfaction.

Sage has taken a significant step in advancing research integrity by adopting Dimensions Author Check, an application from Digital Science that reviews researchers’ publication histories and networks to check for research integrity issues.