A study found that lead exposure on the job can cause progressive declines in memory and learning abilities nearly two decades later. The effects of lead were seen even after exposure had stopped, suggesting a progressive impact on the brain.
Researchers at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine are investigating the potential cholesterol-lowering properties of gugulipid, an extract from the mukul myrrh bush. The study, led by Dr. Philippe Szapary, aims to determine whether gugulipid is safe and effective in reducing mild-to-moderately elevated cholesterol levels.
A new radiation treatment technique targets head and neck tumors while sparing salivary glands, enabling patients to function more normally. Patients who received intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) experienced improved saliva flow and quality of life compared to conventional radiation therapies.
A 'smart' prosthetic lower limb is being developed with a digital control system, enabling amputees to maintain active lives. The leg will simulate human gait and adjust to terrain, reducing pressure sores and improving comfort.
Mayo Clinic researchers developed a new, non-invasive DNA test that detected 91% of colorectal cancers and 73% of polyps. The test shows promise for reducing unnecessary colonoscopies and costs associated with colorectal cancer screening.
A capitated benefit broadened covered services and improved integration among providers, increasing access rates by 50-70% and nearly doubling statewide. The Oregon experience may serve as a model for other states to improve access to substance abuse treatment for Medicaid clients.
A study found that Helicobacter pylori bacteria were present in 88% of SIDS babies, with genes indicating an inflammatory response and potential ammonia production. The prevalence of H pylori infection is typically around 2% in developed countries.
Dana Longcope, a Montana State University physicist, has received the Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers. He was recognized for his work on modeling the sun's magnetic fields, which helps explain solar flares and coronal mass ejections that affect Earth's technology.
A systematic review of herbal medicines for asthma treatment found limited conclusive evidence, with most trials of poor quality and potential side effects. Researchers conclude that properly designed studies are urgently needed to assess the safety and treatment value of herbal medicines.
Research from the University of Washington suggests that building fondness and affection, being responsive to each other's lives, and approaching problems together can help new parents maintain stable or improved marital satisfaction. Despite initial reports of decline, many couples adapt and even strengthen their relationships during ...
A study of 3000 women found that those who have sex with women are equally likely to contract STIs as heterosexual women. High rates of genital warts and herpes were also detected among all participants.
A recent study found that newborn boys, especially those born very prematurely, have a higher mortality rate and are more susceptible to complications than girls. The researchers analyzed data from over 6,500 babies up to two weeks old and found that death rates were one in four for boys compared to one in seven for girls.
Researchers argue that sauropods, like Barosaurus, required a horizontal neck to function on land due to heart size and metabolic rates. This finding contradicts the common depiction of long-necked dinosaurs raising their heads to browse from trees.
Scientists have made significant progress in understanding how birds regenerate their hair cells, a process that could lead to new treatments for human deafness. By studying the sequence of events involved in this process, researchers hope to develop strategies to prevent or reverse certain forms of hearing loss.
The human organs shortage is raising complex questions about who should receive transplants, how to balance costs against medical needs, and the ethics of extending individual lives. A forum on 'Reinventing the Human: The Six Million Dollar Body' will explore these issues and provide a platform for public debate.
The AAPS Annual Meeting highlights the growing burden of non-communicable diseases, with new treatments offering hope for patients. The meeting showcases innovative therapies, including an inhalable flu vaccine and a new AIDS medication regimen.
The Fogarty International Center has awarded a total of $15 million to support six new awards, three competing renewal awards, and 32 competing supplements for U.S. universities under the AITRP. The program focuses on building global HIV/AIDS research capacity and preventing HIV transmission in developing countries.
A five-year study will investigate how physical, biological and human interactions shape the ecosystems of Lake Ontario's freshwater bays and lagoons. The research team, led by Mark B. Bain, will examine internal ecosystem processes and integrate data to determine conditions for self-organization of ecosystems.
Researchers at University College London Medical School have made a major advance in assisted reproductive techniques with a new chromosome testing technique. The technique allows for the assessment of every single chromosome in virtually every cell of a test-tube embryo, potentially leading to improved IVF success rates.
The NEAR Shoemaker spacecraft will swoop in for a record-breaking view of asteroid Eros, collecting data and images from just 5.3 kilometers above the surface. The low-altitude flyover will provide detailed information on the asteroid's shape and surface features.
Children from poor, minority communities are more likely to have asthma and suffer severe symptoms. A recent study found that almost half of high-absentee children self-reported asthma despite having worse symptoms compared to low-absentees.
Researchers at The Wistar Institute have identified an intracellular target for an antimicrobial molecule, which may lead to the development of new antibiotics tailored to specific disease-causing bacteria. The discovery provides hope for combating antibiotic resistance, a growing threat to human health.
Researchers analyzed medical records of World War II veterans with head injuries and found a link between early adulthood trauma and later-life Alzheimer's disease. The more severe the injury, the greater the risk of developing AD, with those with severe injuries having a four-fold greater risk.
Researchers at Northwestern University are analyzing DNA samples from families with children born with spina bifida to identify genetic traits and risk factors. The study aims to predict the likelihood of having a child with the condition, giving parents power to make informed decisions.
The NY & CT Sea Grant programs are awarding $3.5 million in federal and state funds to researchers studying the causes of mortality and shell disease syndrome in Long Island Sound lobsters. The project aims to provide evidence for potential causes of the 1999-2000 lobster mortalities.
The book, Women Becoming Mathematicians, examines how women in mathematics developed their identity from childhood to retirement. The author interviewed 36 female mathematicians who earned Ph.D.s between 1940-1959 and analyzed historical documents.
Researchers found that women at high risk for breast and ovarian cancer scored very low on measures of psychological distress and disorders. Despite having a high-risk profile, these women had little or no worries about developing the disease.
A study of childhood brain tumors found that children born in late summer or fall were more likely to develop medulloblastoma than the general population. Researchers also discovered a link between longer symptom duration for boys and lower stage of disease at diagnosis, potentially affecting diagnoses and treatment.
A new study finds that breast cancer patients who actively express their emotions, such as talking about fears, experience less distress and improved health outcomes. This type of emotional expression is associated with fewer medical appointments for cancer-related issues.
Researchers at UNC have developed a method to identify hypoxic tumor cells that are resistant to radiation and chemotherapy. The pimonidazole hypoxia marker allows scientists to focus on key factors associated with tumor aggressiveness and treatment resistance, offering new avenues for understanding cancer therapy.
Researchers at Georgia Tech have applied aerodynamic concepts from aircraft to tractor-trailers, reducing drag by up to 50% and improving directional control, traction, and braking. The Circulation Control system uses compressed air to create lift and reduce rolling resistance, with potential fuel savings of up to 12%.
A Canadian Institutes of Health Research-funded study found that full-term breech presentation is safest with a planned caesarian section. Babies in the caesarian group were 3-4 times less likely to die or have serious problems within six weeks, especially in developed countries.
Harbor Branch researchers have isolated compounds from an Indian Ocean sponge that show promise as a new treatment for fungal infections, including those affecting AIDS patients. The discovery of unique cyclic peroxy acids may provide a more effective alternative to existing antifungal agents.
A Vanderbilt University research team has identified specific acoustic characteristics in the voices of individuals who have attempted or completed suicide. These findings suggest a potential new method for assessing suicidal intent and could be a valuable tool in preventing suicidal deaths.
Researchers found that fish and flies can differentiate according to specific habitats within nine and 13 generations, respectively. These findings provide a basis for studying the role of natural selection in species evolution and offer insights into the processes of rapid speciation in nature.
Researchers at University of Warwick develop Cybersphere, a VR system that allows users to move freely in virtual environments. The technology combines high power projectors and rotation sensors to provide a fully immersive visual experience.
A DNA vaccine paired with an immune protein successfully controls a highly pathogenic AIDS virus in monkeys, strengthening their immune response and preventing disease. The approach could decrease HIV-1 transmission rates by reducing viral replication in vaccinated individuals.
The researchers discovered a glycerol-conducting channel that selectively filters simple carbohydrates while blocking access to smaller water molecules and ions. This finding sheds light on how protein channels embedded in cell membranes work.
The university will offer 10 Chancellor's Teaching Assistantships with stipends and full tuition to encourage first-year students to participate in teacher training programs. The grant aims to increase minority Ph.D. enrollment at participating institutions.
A new complex launched at the University of Warwick features a 3D cinema that enables large groups of senior managers and engineers to visualize and collaborate on product design projects in 3D. This technology will facilitate geographically dispersed teams across large enterprises to work together more efficiently.
Researchers at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center developed an AIDS vaccine that harnesses "killer" T cells to suppress the virus and prevent clinical disease in monkeys. The vaccine showed significant success in boosting CD8 cytotoxic T lymphocytes, which can attack and contain HIV-infected cells.
Children's lung development is slowed due to air pollution, according to a comprehensive study. Lung function growth rates were 10% lower in the most polluted community compared to cleaner areas, with effects also observed in asthmatic and healthy children.
Partners in Amphibians and Reptile Conservation (PARC) received an Environmental Merit Award from the US Environmental Protection Agency Region 4. The organization, formed in 1999, has made significant contributions to long-term conservation of amphibians, reptiles, and their habitats through public/private partnerships.
The DFG and NSFC have established a Science Promotion Centre in Beijing to support joint research projects between Chinese and German scientists. The centre will fund the preparation and elaboration of projects, as well as finance 'Rainbow Conferences' aimed at fostering links between top researchers.
Research highlights significant declines in lung function growth from air pollution and long-term effects of asthma on lung capacity. Studies found that children exposed to air pollution showed a 0.9% decline in annual lung function ability, while those with long-standing asthma experienced irreversible reductions in lung function.
The Biomedical Security Institute will provide a nationwide preparedness, detection and response capability network for rapid response to acts of bioterrorism. It will also monitor naturally occurring biological catastrophes and develop laboratory and information technologies to address bioterrorism issues.
Deleting the b1 subunit of the BK channel in mice causes high blood pressure and enlarged hearts, suggesting it as a promising target for anti-hypertension drugs. The study provides a new model for investigating the molecular basis of hypertension.
The American Geophysical Union is hosting its Fall Meeting, featuring a range of scientific sessions and press conferences. Press registrants include over 60 journalists from major publications, covering topics such as climate change, natural hazards, and space exploration.
Researchers at Northwestern University are conducting six studies on the role of diet and hormones in breast cancer prevention and development, as well as innovative translational therapies.
Researchers from Temple University and the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute found starch grains on stone tools in Panama dating back nearly 7,000 years. This direct evidence suggests that farming was taking place in tropical America earlier than previously thought.
A recent study published in Endocrinology found that mice engineered without the receptor for growth hormone lived almost one year longer than normal mice, suggesting that the natural hormone may actually shorten lifespan. The researchers are now searching for genes regulated by growth hormone that might play a specific role in life span.
The International Chemical Congress of Pacific Basin Societies (Pacifichem 2000) will bring together scientists from 20 Pacific Rim nations to share research in ten key areas of chemistry. The congress accepted a record number of papers, with over 180 symposia planned.
A UMass researcher has found that new species can arise in as little as 12-14 generations, rather than the previously accepted maximum of 200-400 generations. This discovery suggests that adaptation can lead to reproductive isolation at a much faster rate than previously thought.
Researchers found that paying attention to a sudden sound improves ability to see visual stimuli, suggesting a stronger linkage between sight and hearing. The study provides insights into normal brain activities and may lead to better understanding of attention deficit disorder and schizophrenia.
Researchers have identified a single gene on chromosome 7 of Plasmodium falciparum that makes the most deadly malaria parasite resistant to chloroquine. The pfcrt gene is associated with chloroquine resistance in parasite lines from Asia, Africa, and South America.
A new study by Brown University researchers provides evidence that learning uses LTP to produce changes in the connections between brain cells, necessary for acquiring and storing new information. The study also validates a theory proposing that synapses are constantly modifying and closely related to LTP.
A study of 22 international students found that they gained an average of 3 pounds and a 5% increase in body fat after 20 weeks. The researchers attributed this weight gain to the high-fat, high-salt, high-sugar diets that many new international students adopt.
A study by University of Toronto professor Shelley Peterson found that students perceive male authors as more competent if their stories are descriptive and well-written, while female authors are viewed as more capable if they write about relationships or emotional themes. This perceived incompetence can have long-term implications on ...
The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) has awarded a seven-year, $43.8 million contract to Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC) for malaria vaccine production and support services. This contract supports the acceleration of new malaria vaccine development, including clinical trials.
The Interplanetary Network detected a gigantic gamma-ray burst, the most distant ever observed, from a dying star 30 times more massive than the sun. The burst is believed to have occurred 11 billion years ago and has been traveling through space for the same amount of time.