UT Southwestern researchers have identified a severe enzyme deficiency responsible for some Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) cases. The SCHAD enzyme deficiency affects an infant's ability to break down fatty acids, leading to a brain energy crisis and potentially fatal coma.
The Johns Hopkins Center for Craniofacial Development and Disorders will investigate the genetic causes of oral clefting, craniosynostosis, and other craniofacial malformations. Researchers will also study the interactions between children with craniofacial disorders and those whose skulls developed normally.
Researchers have identified four new limonoids in Spanish cedar leaves that repel a specific insect pest, potentially helping protect endangered primary forests. Selecting seedlings with high concentrations of these substances may aid plantation-raised Spanish cedars and reduce the need for synthetic insecticides.
A team of NYU/U.Rochester researchers found evidence that viewing any image for as little as 0.5 seconds causes an after-affect on visual neurons. This rapid adaptation helps the brain distinguish subtle differences in visual patterns, a critical component of normal visual perception.
A team of scientists has discovered a new primate genus, Equatorius, which helps reshape the complex evolutionary tree around the time when the ancestor to humans and great apes arose. The research reveals that one species, Kenyapithecus wickeri, is more closely related to this ancestor than previously thought.
The new satellite-based tools provide unprecedented insights into tropical cyclones, allowing scientists to break them down into their component parts. This 'data fusion' technique enables the development of advanced hurricane forecasting methods, such as Wavetrak, which sheds light on the origin and intensity of these storms.
Researchers have shown how the fat hormone leptin works in the brain to trigger nerve cells that control eating. Leptin activates 'anorectic' nerve cells releasing appetite-suppressing neuropeptides, while inhibiting 'orexigenic' cells that release appetite-regulatory neuropeptides.