A study suggests that maternal stress and stress hormones may influence fetal brain development. Research found associations between maternal factors, such as medical and psychological stress, and fetal brain function.
The Aldo Leopold Leadership Program has selected its first cohort of 20 Fellows, including experts in water and air quality, diseases, and global climate change. The five-year program aims to enhance their ability to communicate environmental science effectively among various audiences.
A study published in Archives of Internal Medicine found that depressed older women are twice as likely to experience spinal fractures and have a 30% greater risk of non-spinal fractures compared to non-depressed women. The more symptoms of depression, the higher the risk of fracture.
The largest health system study of its kind reveals a chronic heart failure epidemic in the US. Researchers found that annual heart failure cases more than doubled at Henry Ford Health System from 1989-1997, with prevalence rising to 20 cases per 1000 patients.
A Phase II/III clinical trial with ENBREL (etanercept) in chronic heart failure patients is underway, based on positive results from a Phase I study. The trial aims to evaluate cytokine inhibition as a new approach to studying chronic heart failure.
The Cornell team will monitor seismic waves produced by local and distant earthquakes using temporary recording stations set up in eastern Turkey. They aim to determine how the Arabian plate is being supported and what specific earthquake hazards exist in the region, shedding light on the early stages of continental collision.
Researchers at Duke University Medical Center found a new drug reduces the size of myocardial infarctions without necessarily reducing incidence. This challenges traditional trial methods that focus on reducing death and heart attacks.
A new study finds that routine use of coronary stents yields better outcomes and is more cost-effective than traditional balloon angioplasty. The Optimal PTCA versus Primary Stent Strategy (OPUS) Trial showed a significant reduction in death, heart attack rates, and the need for second procedures after six months.
A team of Canadian scientists identified a potentially useful target for drugs to treat type II diabetes and obesity by genetically engineering mice lacking a specific enzyme. The results showed that these mice resisted weight gain and insulin resistance on a high-calorie diet, suggesting a possible approach for treating the disease.
Scientists discover that the sense of smell in mammals uses a combinatorial code to recognize and process odors, allowing for the detection of thousands of scents with relatively few odor receptors. The study reveals that different combinations of receptors are used to describe various smells.
A 40-kilometer-long fault system has been identified directly under the Los Angeles metropolitan area, which is believed to have caused significant damage in recent earthquakes. The newly mapped 'blind-thrust' fault system stretches from downtown LA to northern Orange County and could potentially generate massive 7.0-magnitude quakes.
A study by Duke University Medical Center researchers found that highly depressed individuals have reduced autonomic regulation of blood pressure, increasing the risk of heart damage. Exercise was shown to be an effective treatment to restore this function and improve heart health.
Researchers created a test-tube photosynthesis system that mimics the metal cluster in green plants, shedding light on how life-giving oxygen is produced. The study, led by University of Delaware chemist Arnold Rheingold, may suggest new strategies for converting sunlight into electricity and enhance our appreciation of the natural world.
Scientists at Georgia Tech create a device that can accurately measure the mass of small particles by inducing resonance in individual carbon nanotubes. This technique has potential for weighing viruses and other sub-micron scale particles.
Linda Buck and colleagues found that the olfactory system uses a combination of odorant receptors to recognize different odors. The nose can discriminate a vast number of diverse odorants by recognizing distinct combinations of receptors.
Mice lacking a gene for making telomeres displayed symptoms of aging, including graying hair and increased tumor incidence. However, the study reveals that telomere loss is not solely responsible for aging, suggesting other mechanisms at play.
A study at the University of Pennsylvania Medical Center found that certain retrotransposons can pick up flanking genetic sequences and insert themselves along with tag-along DNA, creating novel genetic combinations. This mechanism may contribute to evolutionary change in humans and other mammals by generating genomic diversity.
The 1999 Tyler Prize honors Te-Tzu Chang's research on rice genetics and conservation, which has led to major advances in plant breeding, productivity, and disease resistance. Joel E. Cohen's contributions to understanding food webs and population growth have also had a lasting impact on both.
A new protein in Candida albicans allows the fungus to adhere strongly to mucosal cells, facilitating its growth and proliferation. The discovery could lead to the development of inhibitors to prevent or treat Candidiasis infections.
Researchers at Sandia National Laboratories have developed a portable X-ray device that can detect explosives and objects in packages using reflected, rather than transmitted, X-rays. The device is designed to be safer for law enforcement officers and can transmit partial images useful in police work even if the package explodes.
Researchers found that about 6% of children exhibit a strong tendency towards revenge in minor conflicts, indicating poorer friendships. This goal was the most predictive factor of their friendship situation in real life, highlighting the need to understand and address this behavior.
A study by Duke University Medical Center scientists found that habitual coffee drinkers experienced increased adrenaline, noradrenaline, and blood pressure when consuming caffeine. This heightened response can lead to damage in the heart over time.
Researchers developed a new mathematical expression that accurately models p-n junction performance, resolving past misconceptions. The theory reveals unexpected results, including the diffusion capacitance vanishing for long diodes.
Scientists are modifying bee venom to develop cancer treatments with fewer side effects than traditional drugs. The goal is to create immunotoxins that target cancer cells specifically, overcoming major drawbacks of chemotherapy.
Scientists have confirmed that a protein complex, when defective, causes limb girdle muscular dystrophy. Researchers developed a cell culture system to mimic the defect and found that complete assembly of the sarcoglycan complex is dependent on simultaneous synthesis of all four sarcoglycans.
A Johns Hopkins-led study shows that many heart disease features are better explained by the body's responses to genetic damage rather than the damage itself. The research used a miniaturized catheter to compare healthy and diseased mouse hearts, revealing evolving adaptations that worsen symptoms over time.
Researchers at Ohio University have discovered a unique retrovirus linked to skin tumors in walleye, which shares similarities with human cyclin D1. The study reveals that the presence of a specific mRNA precedes protein production, potentially leading to tumor cell death.
Researchers at Ohio University develop a new way to measure reading and listening comprehension in brain injury victims by tracking their eye movements. The technique, which shows promise in spotting hidden understanding, is more effective than traditional methods.
Researchers found no link between M74 and environmental pollutants, but suspect complex interacting factors in the Baltic Sea. Precautionary treatment with Vitamin B1 reduces mortality in salmon hatcheries.
Researchers found that dominant men and women exhibit high cardiovascular reactivity when interacting with others, responding to gender norms. In mixed-gender situations, dominant women deactive their traits, while dominant men respond to male gender role norms.
The nuclear pore complex is a highly regulated structure composed of around 50-100 different proteins that control the transport of macromolecules between the nucleus and cytoplasm. Ran protein plays a crucial role in this process, binding selectively to transport factors to regulate cargo molecules across the nuclear pore.
A multidisciplinary team of specialists reduced episodes of delirium by 9.9% compared to standard hospital care, with benefits also seen in improved cognition, mobility, and hearing. The program targeted risk factors such as cognitive impairment, sleep deprivation, and immobility.
Researchers found that the 20th century warming counters a 1,000-year-long cooling trend and reversed a medieval warming period. Temperatures in the latter half of the 20th century were unprecedented, with human-induced greenhouse gases being a major factor.
MIT researchers have created a sensory tabletop that can track hand movements in three dimensions, allowing for new interactive technologies. The table uses electrodes to detect tiny currents generated by the user's hand, which are then used to calculate the hand's position in 3D space.
Astronomers have obtained the clearest view yet of the center of the Andromeda galaxy, revealing a double nucleus that has long puzzled scientists. The study uses new Hubble images to map the orbital motions of stars around the black hole at the galaxy's core.
A University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill study reveals that dopamine plays an early central role in pleasure but another chemical like serotonin is actually responsible for the sensation. Researchers believe this discovery could lead to better explanations for substance abuse and addiction, as well as new treatments.
Researchers have identified two genetic mutations as the cause of megaloblastic anemia 1, a rare disease affecting vitamin B-12 absorption. The disease is exceedingly rare, occurring in only one person in a million, but can be fatal if left untreated.
Recent studies indicate that electronic transmitters used by off-piste skiers to locate buried victims are ineffective due to limited range and prolonged rescue times. The signals only carry up to 50 meters and professional skiers take an average of 18 minutes to reach their companions, resulting in a low survival rate.
Researchers at UT Southwestern Medical Center found PENS to be significantly more effective in decreasing pain scores after each treatment than other methods, improving quality of life for patients with severe lower back pain. Following 12 treatments, patients reported increased physical activity and improved sleep.
The Wistar Institute hosted a symposium on regenerative biology, featuring experts discussing recent advances in understanding regeneration in metazoans, stem cells, and nervous systems. Key findings included insights into limb regeneration, spinal cord repair, and muscle cell replacement.
The Boston University TERRIERS team is gearing up to launch a satellite designed to produce unprecedented three-dimensional images of the ionosphere. The satellite will enable scientists to better predict space weather conditions that can disrupt communication systems on Earth.
Ohio University researchers are producing precise measurements of neutron direction and speed to develop a new cancer treatment. This technology could lead to fewer side effects and more effective treatment options for patients.
Researchers have discovered motion along the southern portion of the boundary between the west African (Nubian) and east African (Somalian) plates. The finding helps geologists understand how the East African rift fits into plate tectonics, improving global models for predicting India-Eurasia collision.
The survey shows strong support for indexing the retirement age to increases in life expectancy. However, actuaries opposed individual accounts and favored limiting investment choices if enacted. Most respondents disagreed with adjusting benefits based on retiree-to-worker ratio.
Researchers discovered a genetic mutation responsible for a rare form of treatable dwarfism, affecting 105 family members in northeastern Brazil. The study suggests the mutation could be used as a prenatal screening test for the disorder.
Decentralized energy technologies, such as solar and wind power, are being implemented in developing countries to address electricity shortages. The symposium aims to discuss recent developments and barriers to the wider adoption of renewable energy sources.
Researchers discovered Wnt-4's role in regulating kidney development through inducing tubulogenesis in isolated mesenchyme. Additionally, Wnt-4 suppresses male cell fates in female embryos, affecting sex organ differentiation. It also mediates tissue interactions involved in neuronal growth and axonal guidance.
Researchers at HHMI and Stanford University have developed a new method to engineer drug molecules that bind more effectively to their targets. By attaching small molecule inhibitors to larger proteins, the team increased the binding affinity of the inhibitor, making it easier to inhibit protein-protein interactions.
A new type of degradable polyethene, SPI-TEK, breaks down in five years and allows other organic materials to decompose, increasing landfill site capacity. Bayer is also testing a new 100% degradable polyester suitable for industrial production in agriculture and food sectors.
A University of Michigan cancer vaccine combination with interleukin-2 was found to be effective in mobilizing the immune system to attack and destroy malignant cells. Eighty percent of mice showed complete regression of their tumors after treatment.
A new technology using coated alumina could reduce emissions from small sources, such as industrial boilers and lawn mowers. The technique removes 95% of nitrogen oxides under conditions similar to combustion exhaust.
Researchers found that contaminants can have very little impact on the physical properties of plastics, allowing for more functional products to be made from recycled materials. This could increase production of recycled plastic products like car bumpers and street furniture.
The new high-strength, ultra-thin steels are being tested for endurance on life-size testing rigs to simulate 40,000km of rocky road driving. The materials range in thickness from 0.7 to 2 mm and have improved fatigue properties.
Researchers have found a secondary barrier in the brain that prevents certain drugs from reaching tumors and neurological disorders. The barrier is called the basement membrane and traps stealth agents while allowing others to pass through, highlighting challenges for gene therapy and drug delivery.
A University of Michigan study found that seniors who volunteer for less than an hour a week are more likely to live longer. The study analyzed data from 1,211 older adults and discovered that volunteering is directly associated with increased survival rates, rather than just being a result of better health.
A study by Johns Hopkins Medicine reveals that nearly 90% of prostate cancers are linked to a common genetic process called 'gene switching,' which can be reversed with drugs. This finding has the potential to correct one of the most common cancers in men without using typical gene therapy.
Researchers link Fas and FasL interaction to immune-privilege in the eye, affecting age-related macular degeneration. Deficiency of Fas or FasL leads to increased growth of new retinal vessels.
Researchers at Sandia National Laboratories have developed a decontamination foam that can neutralize chemical and biological agents in minutes. The foam, called Decon Foam 100, is made from ordinary household products and could be dispensed immediately after an attack, even before evacuating casualties.
Physicists at Fermilab's KTeV experiment report a large and unexpected direct CP violation, ruling out the Superweak Theory. The finding exceeds previous expectations, raising questions about its accommodation within the Standard Model.
A genome scan identified regions on chromosomes 2, 4, 10, 16, 17 and 18 that may contain genes influencing nicotine dependence. The study used two independent samples, with limited replication in several regions suggesting further investigation is warranted.