New research finds state-level abortion restrictions associated with increased maternal deaths

Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine

FacebookXLinkedInWeChatBlueskyMessageWhatsAppEmail

State abortion restrictions and maternal deaths in the

 United States: 2005-2023

Las Vegas, NV – The increased number of state-level abortion restrictions in the U.S. was associated with a parallel increase in maternal deaths between 2005 and 2023, according to new research presented today at the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine (SMFM) 2026 Pregnancy Meeting™. Researchers found that states with five or more different abortion restrictions had higher rates of maternal deaths from any cause, cardiovascular disease, and violence than those states with fewer restrictions.

“Abortion is a medically safe procedure, and restricting access to it has real consequences,” said Marie C. Anderson, MD, a resident in the Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology at Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians & Surgeons in New York City, who led the study.

“Our research adds to a growing body of literature confirming the profound negative impact these restrictions are having on maternal health in this country,” said co-researcher Lisa M. Nathan, MD, Chief of Obstetrics at Columbia University Irving Medical Center.

Using the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention National Vital Statistics System, researchers from Columbia University reviewed state data on the 22,380 deaths that occurred nationwide between 2005–2023 in pregnant people ages 15-54 years. All deaths that occurred while pregnant or within 42 days postpartum were reviewed. The researchers compared deaths in each state before and after the enactment of 10 of the most common state-level abortion laws.

Between 2005–2003, the number of abortion restrictions increased from an average of 2.7 restrictions to 5.3 restrictions per state. In 2005, only five states had five or more abortion restrictions, considered the “most restrictive” states. In 2023, the number of states considered “most restrictive” jumped to 27. These 27 states included: AL, AZ, AR, FL, GA, ID, IN, IA, KS, KY, LA, MI, MS, MO, NE, NC, ND, OH, OK, PA, SC, SD, TN, TX, UT, WV, and WI. Of these states, AR, LA, NE, and WI had the greatest number of abortion restrictions during the study period.

Researchers found that six of the 10 common abortion restrictions were associated with higher rates of maternal death. These six abortion restrictions included bans on Medicaid funding for abortion, ACA Marketplace insurance coverage bans, mandated waiting periods, ultrasound requirements, second-trimester abortion bans, and biased counseling laws.

Four of the 10 abortion restrictions were associated with higher rates of violent death from homicide and suicide. These restrictions included Medicaid coverage and ACA Marketplace coverage bans, waiting periods, and requirements that abortions be provided by physicians only.

“When states adopt multiple abortion restrictions, we see measurable increases in deaths among pregnant and postpartum people,” said Anderson. “The associations we observed were broad — affecting deaths from any cause, cardiovascular disease, and violence — and underscore that reproductive health policy is inseparable from maternal health."

Oral abstract #48 "State abortion restrictions and maternal deaths in the United States: 2005-2023" will be published in the February 2026 issue of PREGNANCY, the official peer-reviewed medical journal of the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine. 

---

Journal

Pregnancy

Method of Research

Data/statistical analysis

Subject of Research

People

Article Title

State abortion restrictions and maternal deaths in the United States: 2005-2023

 

AI-powered digital twin enables real-time energy evaluation for smart buildings

Kanazawa University

FacebookXLinkedInWeChatBlueskyMessageWhatsAppEmail

 

image: 

 Integrated Evaluation Framework and Thermal Load Visualization in a Rule-Based Symbolic AI–Driven Digital Twin (VEEM-ZEB) Model.

view more 

Credit: ©Xiao Teng et al., 2025. Adapted from Figures 1 and 7 of Xiao Teng et al., Sustainable Cities and Society, 2025, licensed under CC BY-NC. This image is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial (CC BY-NC) license.

In the context of global decarbonization, reducing energy consumption in the building sector is an urgent issue. We have developed a next-generation building energy evaluation model that combines rule-based symbolic AI computing with VR technology. This model enables real-time visualization and simultaneous evaluation of the energy-saving effects and indoor thermal comfort during the design stage of a Zero-Energy Building. This approach will have a wide range of applications in the design of next-generation smart buildings.

Background

  In recent years, in the context of global decarbonization, reducing energy consumption in buildings has become an important issue. In designing a zero-energy building (ZEB)*1), achieving both energy efficiency and occupant comfort is a crucial challenge in realizing sustainable architecture. However, static simulation methods widely used up until now have difficulty in fully evaluating changes in heat load and indoor environment during the design stage. This has led to uncertainty in design decisions. In particular, Task-Ambience air conditioning (TAAC)*2) systems, which separately control the workspaces of individual occupants and the entire room, have been reported to save energy during operation. However, evaluation methods were not readily available for use at the design stage. 

In this study, therefore, the researchers aimed to develop a digital twin-type evaluation model that can be used from the design stage to visualize and evaluate in advance the energy-saving effects and comfort of air conditioning.

Results

  The research group led by Prof. Teng of College of Transdisciplinary Sciences for Innovation, Kanazawa University, in collaboration with a scientist of Fushou University, China, developed a rule-based symbolic AI computing-driven digital twin model, "VEEM-ZEB," that can simultaneously evaluate energy consumption and indoor thermal comfort during the architectural design stage (ex-ante) of a ZEB using a TAAC system.

This model is characterized by its ability to explicitly separate the thermal loads of task air conditioning and ambience air conditioning, and to perform integrated thermal comfort and energy evaluations based on PMV/PPD indices. Furthermore, the visualization environment integrated with VR shows energy consumption and comfort indices in real time, realizing a design support mechanism that allows designers to instantaneously check evaluation results while manipulating conditions.

In addition, based on standardized parameter settings, the model is able to systematically generate and analyze approximately 48,000 design and operating scenarios. As a result of sensitivity analysis taking into account differences in seasonal conditions, occupancy density, and behavioral modes, as well as demonstration in office spaces, this method was able to reduce air conditioning energy consumption by approximately 7.0 to 8.5% with a stable average annual energy-saving effect of 7.62%.

The novelty of this research lies in that it enables TAAC performance evaluation, which previously relied on the operational stage, to be carried out at the design stage, and that it has established a three-layered digital twin evaluation platform that integrates a highly explainable and reproducible computing method using rule-based symbolic AI with an intuitive visualization environment using VR. This makes it possible to quantitatively compare air conditioning methods and control strategies at an early design stage.

Future Prospects

  The results of this research make it possible to simultaneously visualize and evaluate the energy-saving effects and indoor comfort of air conditioning systems at the design stage before building completion. The model developed here is expected to be introduced into architectural design practice as a decision-making support tool for rational ZEB design that achieves both comfort and energy efficiency.

  This technology can be applied to a wide range of architectural applications, including offices and public, educational and medical facilities, and will contribute to reducing energy consumption and utility costs through the spreading of efficient air conditioning designs. Furthermore, as a pre-assessment method integrating rule-based symbolic AI and digital twins, this technology is expected to contribute to the development of architectural environmental engineering and ZEB design research.

Funding

This work was supported by JSPS KAKENHI (Grant Number 23K04156).

Glossary

*1) Zero-energy building (ZEB)

  A building that aims to achieve virtually zero annual primary energy consumption.

*2) Task-Ambience air conditioning (TAAC)

  An air conditioning system that controls the work area (task) and the surrounding space (ambience) separately.

###

About Kanazawa University

— Contributing to Society through “Future Oriented Intelligence”, Built on an “All Kanazawa University” Approach.

Kanazawa University (KU), founded in 1862, is a research university dedicated to education, while opening up its doors to both local and global society. Guided by our vision, “Kokorozashi,” we contribute to society through “Future-oriented Intelligence,” addressing current challenges and anticipating future ones from both local and global perspectives.

KU includes 4 colleges, 20 schools, 7 graduate schools, a hospital, and specialized research centers such as the Cancer Research Institute, a leading hub for research on cancer metastasis and drug development. Over 1,000 researchers drive innovation and international collaboration across diverse fields.

KU is advancing research through WPI (World Premier International Research Center Initiative) and J-PEAKS (Program for Forming Japan’s Peak Research Universities), accelerating interdisciplinary and international collaborations and innovations.

Learn more here: https://www.kanazawa-u.ac.jp/en/

To learn more about Dr. Teng’s research and academic profile, please visit Kanazawa University’s researcher information page：https://ridb.kanazawa-u.ac.jp/public/detail_en.php?id=10561

---

Journal

Sustainable Cities and Society

DOI

10.1016/j.scs.2025.106947 

Article Title

Rule-based symbolic AI computing-driven digital twin model for ex-ante energy evaluation of task-ambience air conditioning systems in zero-energy buildings

 

Bridging Earth, ecological & environmental sciences with artificial intelligence

Biochar Editorial Office, Shenyang Agricultural University

FacebookXLinkedInWeChatBlueskyMessageWhatsAppEmail

 

image: 

Artificial Intelligence & Environment – Harnessing AI to Tackle Eco-Environmental Crises for a Sustainable Future

view more 

Credit: James P. Lewis, Chang-Er Chen and Guang-Guo Ying

Artificial Intelligence & Environment (AI&E), officially launched in November 2025, is co-edited by Professor Guang-Guo Ying (South China Normal University) and Professor James P. Lewis (The University of Hong Kong).

The journal is dedicated to advancing the innovative applications of AI in ecological protection, climate change mitigation, water resource management, pollution control, and sustainable development. AI&E provides a cutting-edge, efficient, and professional platform for global researchers to exchange academic insights. We are currently open for submissions worldwide. As a quarterly publication, we accept various manuscript types and warmly welcome proposals for Special Issues from domain experts.

• Submission Portal: https://mc03.manuscriptcentral.com/aienviron
• Official Website: https://www.the-newpress.com/aie/

When AI Enters Environmental Science: A Paradigm Shift

In this inaugural issue, six seminal papers delineate the initial coordinates of this emerging interdisciplinary field:

📘 Editorial | Bridging Earth, Ecology, and Environmental Sciences with AI: A Message to the Future

We posit that AI is not intended to "replace" environmental scientists, but rather to expand the frontiers of human cognition. It transforms high-dimensional data processing, complex pattern recognition, and causal inference into standard analytical tools, moving them beyond the exclusive domain of specialized computational labs.

The mission of AI&E is clear: To empower environmental experts with state-of-the-art computational tools and to provide cutting-edge algorithms with the most urgent real-world application scenarios.

📘 From "Passive Analysis" to "Proactive Design"

• Intelligent Identification of Non-target Pollutants (Review): In an environment containing tens of thousands of organic pollutants where reference standards are perpetually lagging, machine learning is establishing a new paradigm for "standard-free" qualitative and quantitative analysis. By predicting mass spectra, inferring molecular formulas, and generating unknown structures, this represents the "autonomous driving" moment for environmental analytical chemistry.
• AI-driven Transformation of the Microplastics Research Chain (Perspective): From hyperspectral identification and sedimentation modeling to neurotoxicity mechanism inference and global exposure risk assessment, we propose a "Pan-Microplastics AI Framework." This framework leverages AI to holistically address the "Triple Crisis" of microplastics, climate change, and biodiversity loss.

📘 From "Single Medium" to "Holistic Intelligence"

• AI Methodologies Across Water, Soil, Air, and Solid Waste (Perspective): This article systematically reviews AI applications across Earth's spheres and proposes a "Five-Step Criterion" for AI model deployment—ranging from data cleaning to interpretability—effectively transforming "black boxes" into transparent scientific tools.
• Urban Exposomics in Pet Hair (Research): Domestic pet hair is emerging as an "intelligent sensor" for indoor pollution. Through text mining, machine learning, and high-resolution mass spectrometry (HRMS), researchers found that pets and their owners share over 50% of chemical exposure characteristics. Your pet’s fur may offer a more precise diagnostic of your health risks than a standard air monitor.

📘 From "Technical Tools" to "Global Governance"

• The Irreversible Divergence of AI Development Paradigms in China, the US, and the EU (Policy): With the US prioritizing foundation models and hardware, China excelling in application deployment, and the EU focusing on "Trustworthy AI" and regulatory standards, three distinct technological ecosystems are forming. For global environmental governance, this suggests a complex challenge: we must find collective solutions to the climate crisis within three parallel and potentially incompatible AI frameworks.

Read the Full Issue: https://www.the-newpress.com/aie/

---

Method of Research

News article

 

Cell and gene therapy across 35 years

A bibliometric analysis of global advances in CGT

Kyoto University

FacebookXLinkedInWeChatBlueskyMessageWhatsAppEmail

 

image: 

Comparing the development of cell and gene therapy research in six countries.

view more 

Credit: Yuki Kitahara and Sumimasa Nagai

Kyoto, Japan -- Cell and gene therapies, or CGT, have come a long way since they were first introduced. In the last few decades, both cell therapy -- the transplantation of living cells -- and gene therapy -- the use of genetic material to modify cell functions -- have been increasingly incorporated into clinical practice.

Various challenges and advances have propelled the use of CGT in innovative treatments for diseases that had otherwise proven difficult to conquer. Yet progress has been uneven across different therapies and regions. To accelerate CGT innovation and improve access, it is essential to take a comprehensive look at past research achievements and qualitatively evaluate relevant factors.

These challenges motivated a team of researchers at Kyoto University to take a hard look at past data and assess the current standing of cell and gene therapies in cooperation with Arthur D. Little Japan. Using the PubMed and OpenAlex databases, the team accessed over 160,000 papers related to CGT published between 1989 and 2023. They then conducted a bibliometric analysis of the historical development of these therapies, including contributions by region.

The team's analysis revealed global trends of CGT development over the 35-year study period. The amount of research focusing on hematopoietic stem cell transplantation, including bone marrow transplantation, and ex vivo gene therapy has seen continued growth. In contrast, mesenchymal stem cell therapy, which utilizes cells that react to inflammation such as injury, and in vivo gene therapy have stagnated in their transition to clinical practice.

This study also uncovered compelling variations in research output by region. While Japan reliably contributes a large number of papers in cell therapy, it is lacking in significant qualitative influence. The United States and China lead the field of CGT research in both quantity and quality. But the high-impact papers were often a result of international collaborations.

"It's clear that international collaborative research tends to lead to high-impact papers, confirming strong ties between Europe and the United States, as well as strong connections within Europe," says team leader Sumimasa Nagai.

Of course, the changing geopolitical landscape and funding cuts to research in America are likely to have a significant impact on these trends, but the results of this study attest to the advantages of international cooperation. These findings are expected to serve as a crucial foundation for considering the allocation of research resources and the direction of future collaboration.

With this study, the researchers aim to steer Japan's strengths in regenerative medicine, cell therapy, and gene therapy toward effective implementation in society. In the future, the team plans to further integrate information on patents, regulations, and funding alongside bibliographic data in order to develop a framework for comprehensively analyzing the flow from basic research to societal implementation.

###

The paper "Advancement in Cell and Gene Therapy Research: a 35-Year Bibliometric Perspective" appeared on 10 January 2026 in Cytotherapy, with doi: 10.1016/j.jcyt.2026.102056

This research was supported by the Japan Agency for Medical Research and Development (AMED) under the Acceleration Program of R&D and implementation for Regenerative Medicine and Cell and Gene Therapy (Project title: Accompanying Support to Accelerate the Social Implementation of Regenerative Medicine Research, Including Cell and Gene Therapy).

About Kyoto University

Kyoto University is one of Japan and Asia's premier research institutions, founded in 1897 and responsible for producing numerous Nobel laureates and winners of other prestigious international prizes. A broad curriculum across the arts and sciences at undergraduate and graduate levels complements several research centers, facilities, and offices around Japan and the world. For more information, please see: http://www.kyoto-u.ac.jp/en

---

Journal

Cytotherapy

DOI

10.1016/j.jcyt.2026.102056 

Method of Research

Data/statistical analysis

Subject of Research

Cells

Article Title

Advancement in Cell and Gene Therapy Research: a 35-Year Bibliometric Perspective

COI Statement

YK and HK are affiliated with Arthur D. Little and have provided consulting services related to regenerative cell and gene therapies. RN received consultation fees from SleepWell and Shionogi. SN received research funding from the Nipro Corporation. SN received honoraria from Takara Bio, Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma and Konica Minolta REALM. The other authors have no commercial, proprietary, or financial interests in the products or companies described in this article.