The University at Buffalo's Center for Hearing and Deafness has received a $5.7 million grant to study acquired hearing loss, affecting 28 million people in the US. The center will investigate four projects on peripheral and central auditory system function.
Researchers successfully modified adenovirus, a common cold virus, to carry corrective genes to defective cells. The modified virus persisted for over two months in mice, overcoming a major barrier to widespread use of adenovirus as a genetic delivery vehicle.
Researchers have developed a new class of porous materials, called nanobubblepack, with ordered crystal-like arrangements of ultra-small spherical spaces. They can produce these materials in a range of pore sizes and fill them with various substances.
A large clinical trial in Uganda found that despite reductions in STDs, HIV incidence was not reduced by mass treatment. The study suggests that STDs increase the risk of HIV infections at an individual level.
A study by Gregory Encina Billikopf found that farmworkers generally have positive attitudes towards their employment, with many rating their jobs as excellent and valuing respect and fair treatment from supervisors. Workers also appreciate being treated like 'working people' and receiving acknowledgement for their successes.
A common surfactant, sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS), has been shown to inactivate sexually transmitted viruses including human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and human papillomaviruses (HPVs). The discovery provides a major step towards developing a practical, non-toxic, and inexpensive product to protect women from HPV infection.
A study found that adults with major depressive disorder, bipolar disorder, or schizophrenia were more likely to experience early parental loss than healthy individuals. Early loss before age 9 had a stronger impact on psychopathology in adulthood.
Researchers have found a copper ion plays a crucial role in helping plants detect minuscule concentrations of ethylene, a hormone that triggers ripening and aging. The discovery confirms a long-standing hypothesis about protein receptors and their interaction with transition metals.
A recent gene study published in Science magazine contradicts decades of research suggesting that birds are the closest relatives of reptile groups. Turtles have been found to be the closest living relatives of crocodilians, according to the analysis of 24 nuclear genes and 9 DNA segments from reptile cells.
Pediatric researcher Holly A. Ruff warns against applying large-group study findings to explain individual behavior, citing limitations in IQ testing and the complexity of vulnerability/resilience. Vulnerable children from disadvantaged backgrounds may face additional risk factors such as poor nutrition and lack of protective factors.