New research from the University of Wisconsin–Madison reveals that dysfunction in a protein essential to maintaining stability in our chromosomes may be responsible for serious — and sometimes deadly — diseases.

Researchers showed that chimpanzees — like humans — can change their minds based on the strength of available evidence, a key feature of rational thought. Working at the Ngamba Island Chimpanzee Sanctuary in Uganda, the researchers presented chimps with two boxes, one containing food. Initially, the animals received a clue suggesting which box held the reward. Later, they were given stronger evidence pointing to the other box. The chimps frequently switched their choices in response to the new clues.

When patients undergo heart surgery, their kidneys face significant stress. Acute kidney injury (AKI) is one of the most common complications after cardiac procedures, often resulting in longer hospital stays, higher costs and an increased risk of death. Now, a new collaboration between Rice University and Baylor College of Medicine (BCM) aims to change that, using artificial intelligence to alert clinicians to early signs of kidney trouble giving them critical time to intervene before lasting damage occurs.

New work by a University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign scholar harnesses the power of generative artificial intelligence, using it in tandem with measurement-based care and access-to-care models in a simulated case study, creating a novel framework that promotes personalized mental health treatment, addresses common access barriers and improves outcomes for diverse individuals.