Researchers discovered a connection between a brain hormone called orexin and narcolepsy, a severe sleep disorder. The study found that mice lacking the orexin gene exhibited abnormal sleep patterns and behaviors similar to those of humans with narcolepsy.
A Penn State study found that restructuring public schools can be detrimental to student performance, particularly in low-income communities. The researchers argue that complex educational technologies and instructional practices require skilled teachers and substantial resources, which may not be available in disadvantaged schools.
The research report highlights the emotional impact of organ donations on both recipients and donor families. Recipients often view their transplanted organs as mechanical objects, while donor families perceive them as a personal connection to the donor.
The NSF award establishes a Center for Behavioral Neuroscience, focusing on complex social behaviors and emotions. The center will study brain mechanisms and develop powerful new technologies.
A new imaging method is being developed to show images of plaque deposits in the brains of Alzheimer's patients as the disease progresses. The technology uses technetium-based probes to detect amyloid plaque deposits, which could allow for definitive diagnosis before death.
The discovery of the narcolepsy gene in dogs by Dr. Emmanuel Mignot opens the door to identification of the gene in humans and development of new treatment approaches. The study also links hypocretins, a recently discovered family of brain neuropeptides, to regulating sleep.
A new theory proposes that some of the carbon in diamonds originates from supernovae explosions and meteorites, rather than organic materials. This idea is supported by the antiquity of diamonds and similarities in carbon isotopic ratios to those found in meteorites.
Penn State engineers have developed a new manufacturing process that produces stronger and stiffer carbon fiber grids, which can be tailored to specific applications using computer simulations. The grids offer advantages over traditional steel reinforcing rods, including corrosion resistance and reduced weight.
Researchers use genomics to create 'road maps' of plant genomes, allowing them to quickly locate desirable traits and move them into other crops. This new approach promises to speed the development of crops that can withstand environmental stresses.
A team of Williams College astronomers will conduct scientific experiments during the August 11 solar eclipse to study the coronal heating of the sun. The research, supported by grants from NASA and National Geographic, aims to observe rapid oscillations in the corona using advanced telescopes and optics.
Researchers aim to understand the physics of auto airbags to design futuristic airbags with enhanced safety features. Preliminary findings suggest two modifications that could improve airbag safety, including reducing propellant use and installing an aspirator behind the dashboard.
New York University scientist Denis Pelli finds that the transition from grid to face in Close's paintings occurs at relatively short distances, revealing a size-dependent breakdown of shape perception. This challenges existing theories and credits Chuck Close with discovering this effect.
The UCSF Cancer Center has received designation from the National Cancer Institute (NCI), becoming the only NCI-designated cancer center in Northern California. The center will receive up to $850,000 per year for research infrastructure and administration.
A Dartmouth-VA study found that for-profit hospital ownership is associated with higher per capita Medicare spending and faster spending growth compared to non-profit hospitals. The analysis controlled for various factors that might influence health care costs.
Amputation rates among elderly Americans have risen due to limited capacity for bypass surgery and angioplasty procedures. Diabetes remains a major risk factor, with 40-60% of amputations involving diabetic patients.
Researchers at UCLA and Human Genome Sciences have discovered two human proteins, METH-1 and METH-2, that inhibit blood vessel formation and show promise in treating a range of cancer tumors. The proteins were found to be more potent than endostatin in preventing new blood vessel growth.
The US government has awarded a $11.3 million contract to Summa Technology Inc. for the manufacture, operation, and maintenance of Fastrac rocket engines. The company will build three new flight engines for the X-34 technology demonstrator and utilize one existing engine.
A new University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill study finds that child abuse homicides are more common than vital records reveal, with over 9,400 US children under 11 dying from abuse between 1985 and 1996. The true number is estimated to be three times higher than reported cases.
Researchers at UT Southwestern Medical Center have converted dendritic cells into cells that deliver death signals, potentially preventing and treating inflammatory diseases. This technology could lead to the prevention and treatment of inflammatory diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis.
The Second Annual International Autonomous Underwater Vehicle (AUV) Competition will take place at the Naval Systems Warfare Center in Panama City, Florida. Six university teams will compete for a $10,000 prize, with a focus on developing capable AUVs and top-notch engineers to work on them.
Researchers found that women with high HIV RNA levels in their blood transmitted the virus to their infants more often than those with low levels, highlighting the importance of treatment strategies aimed at reducing viral load. The studies also suggest that undetectable viral RNA levels can significantly reduce transmission risk.
Researchers found that cinnamon is lethal to E. coli O157:H7 bacteria in liquid, including unpasteurized juices. The study suggests that cinnamon may help control foodborne illnesses and potentially replace preservatives.
The INEEL is developing a roadmap for vadose zone management, leveraging expertise from DOE sites, contractors, industry, and universities to enhance timely delivery of products. The goal is sound environmental stewardship through understanding based on defensible science.
A study found that primary care physicians in California often miss opportunities to screen for domestic violence, especially during routine medical exams. The researchers recommend increasing awareness and training to prevent domestic violence from happening in the first place.
Graduate students will work with leaders in biorobotics and neuro-mechanical prostheses, designing agile robots and creating devices to restore movement. The program aims to educate scientists and engineers for multidisciplinary teams.
A team of 200 scientists has reconstructed the evolutionary relationships among all green plants, revealing a single common ancestor that spawned every plant species on Earth. The research also clarifies the relationships between plants and animals, overturning traditional categories.
Researchers at Max Planck Institute for Quantum Optics found that molecular clusters break up into positively and negatively charged fragments upon impact with any solid surface. They propose that neutral alkali atoms play a key role in charge separation, leading to the formation of separate ionic fragments.
A study from Harvard Medical School and the Harvard Program in Refugee Trauma found that 25.5% of Bosnian adults who fled the war were functionally disabled due to psychiatric disorders, with those experiencing PTSD and depression being five times more likely to report a disability.
Researchers have genetically modified rice grains to improve supply of iron and vitamin A. IDA and VAD are major contributors to childhood and maternal mortality primarily in developing countries. The transgenic material will be freely available for further development into publicly available rice breeding lines.
Researchers have found another aberrant gene on chromosome 2 that produces identical symptoms to the X-chromosome gene discovered earlier. The discovery improves genetic diagnosis prospects and may help in developing future therapies for hypohidrotic ectodermal dysplasia.
Scientists at the University of Chicago Medical Center have discovered a key gene that enables skin to acquire its barrier function, which is crucial for preventing dehydration and infections in premature babies. The study uses genetically engineered mice with a mutated Klf4 gene to demonstrate the importance of this factor.
A new study found that anger expression fluctuates according to situational factors, rather than being a stable personality trait. State measures of anger expression were significantly associated with the person triggering anger, location, mood, and appraisal variables.
Researchers have developed a new method to identify and isolate stem cells from umbilical cord blood using an enzyme that changes a fluorescent tag. This technique could help investigate fundamental questions about stem cells and potentially improve success rates of stem cell transplants by eliminating unwanted mature blood cells.
Researchers at the University of Illinois are developing a new trigger that can distinguish between interesting and non-interesting collisions in particle accelerators. The device will help identify collisions that create bottom quarks, providing essential information about fundamental rules for assembling matter.
Researchers developed an optimization tool to reduce long-term sampling and monitoring costs at contaminated groundwater sites. The methodology combines simulation and plume-interpolation tools to accurately quantify contaminant mass while minimizing costs.
Scientists at NIAID's Rocky Mountain Laboratories discovered a section of the prion protein that can prevent misfolding and progression to disease. This finding opens possibilities for therapy in animals and may one day help prevent degenerative brain diseases such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's.
Researchers found that patients with higher cognitive adaptation scores were less likely to experience a new heart attack or other coronary event six months after their angioplasty. Patients' ability to cope positively with their illness and take better care of themselves may play a key role in reducing the risk of future heart attacks.
Researchers suggest that a rare radioactive isotope found in deep-sea sediments may be evidence of a nearby supernova. The explosion could have caused a 'cosmic-ray winter' leading to mini-extinctions about 5 million years ago, with effects still detectable today.
Research finds that revival in AIDS patients brings new uncertainties, affecting feelings of hope and future orientation, social roles and identities, interpersonal relationships, and changes in quality of life.
Researchers have developed a system to network up to 30 remote sensors along a single fiber optic cable, allowing for periodic assessments of structural strain. The Navy and Federal Highway Administration are exploring the use of this technology to schedule maintenance and update design codes.
A University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill study highlights the dangers of heatstroke in football and recommends shorter practices, non-contact drills, and regular cooling breaks. Coaches are urged to prioritize player safety and prevent tragedies.
A recent study found that approximately 4.2 million adolescents had no health insurance coverage in 1995, leaving them with significant obstacles to accessing adequate healthcare. The study suggests that a shift from private to public insurance has not led to an improvement in health insurance coverage for this age group.
Researchers at UW-Madison have perfected a method for creating designer influenza viruses, which can be tailored to solve mysteries about flu strain mutations, spread, and illness. This technology may lead to more efficient influenza vaccines and safer gene therapies.
A CAD-driven laser forming process may eliminate costly manufacturing practices for aircraft structural components. This technology aims to reduce material usage, inventory, and costs by leveraging a layered manufacturing method.
Researchers at the University of Illinois have improved the chemical oxygen-iodine laser (COIL), enhancing its performance and reducing operating costs. The device can now be scaled to high power levels and has a wavelength suitable for remote fiber-optic delivery.
Scientists at the University of Iowa have discovered a powerful tool to activate human dendritic cells, key players in the immune system, using CpG DNA. This breakthrough could lead to enhanced immunization and treatment of cancer and autoimmune diseases.
Researchers found that oxygen supplementation can significantly reduce the effects of retinal detachment by protecting photoreceptor cells and limiting cell abnormality. This breakthrough suggests that ophthalmologists may want to consider providing oxygen therapy to patients diagnosed with retinal detachment while awaiting surgery.
Researchers found that long-term Transcendental Meditation practitioners experience reduced systolic blood pressure and vasoconstriction during meditation. This study suggests that Transcendental Meditation may help prevent high blood pressure in African American youth by reducing risk factors for heart disease.
A new sensing and control system is being developed to regulate melt rate, temperature, and iron composition in cupola furnaces, reducing greenhouse gas emissions. The Intelligent, Integrated, Industrial Process Sensing and Control System (I3PSC) has the potential to save 1500 tonnes of coke annually in the US alone.
A study by Stanley Changnon and colleagues found no evidence of an increase in catastrophic weather events, despite rising property losses. The growth of losses is attributed to the increasing population in coastal and urban areas, leading to a larger target-at-risk.
Researchers developed a novel afterburner technology that increases waste consumption in marine incinerators by a factor of 3.2 while reducing carbon monoxide emission by the same amount. The technology also eliminated visible smoke emission during operation.
NASA's PICASSO-CENA mission aims to measure the impact of tiny particles from industrial pollution on sunlight and climate change. The mission will use lidar technology to gather data on aerosols, clouds, and their effects on regional climate.
A study from Massachusetts General Hospital found that treated ADHD boys are one-third as likely to develop substance abuse or dependence compared to untreated peers. The research contradicts the myth that stimulant treatment could lead to future drug abuse.
A new study funded by NIDA and NIMH found that boys with ADHD treated with stimulants like Ritalin are less likely to develop substance use disorders. The study showed an 84% reduction in risk among medicated ADHD boys, compared to non-medicated ADHD boys and those without ADHD.
A study found that patients with chronic nonmalignant back pain who received higher levels of economic and social rewards experienced increased disability, depression, and anxiety. Those with fewer rewards reported lower levels of these conditions.
Researchers have successfully reversed damage caused by Pompe disease, a rare inherited muscle-wasting disorder, in laboratory mice using a modified virus to deliver a therapeutic gene. The study's findings show promise for treating dozens of forms of muscular dystrophy and may lead to a continuous supply of enzyme production.
New research reveals that uncontrollable stresses can severely affect the immune system by disrupting cytokine function and producing high levels of cortisol. In contrast, controlled stress responses result in brief, insignificant changes to immune activity.
Scientists have discovered a highly error-prone DNA copying system in bacteria that causes genetic mutations under ultraviolet radiation. This 'sloppier copier' reveals how cells can intentionally introduce mistakes to survive and evolve.
A new study found that patients with higher levels of conscientiousness are less likely to die suddenly from cardiovascular disease. Patients who faithfully take their prescribed medication, such as amiodarone, are also more likely to engage in healthy behaviors like eating a heart-healthy diet and socializing.
A $1.4 million project aims to create an advanced artificial knee prosthesis, drawing on expertise from US and Russian nuclear labs. The device will be designed to adapt to the wearer's movement and provide a more natural gait.