Karen Wynn, a Yale psychologist, has been awarded the Troland Research Award for her groundbreaking research on infants' numerical competence. Her studies have revealed that infants can distinguish between different quantities and even compute simple additions and subtractions.
Dr. Jeffrey S. Chamberlain joins the University of Washington to study muscular dystrophy gene therapies with a focus on developing vectors for genetic delivery. His research aims to prevent and reverse the disease, offering hope for treatment or cure options.
Scientists at Ohio State University found that saturated landfills can decompose biodegradable waste 10-20 times faster than usual. This means more room for additional trash in the same landfill, cutting down on the need for extra space and enabling recycling of extracted recyclables.
A search for lightning on Venus in 1998 and 1999 using the Cassini spacecraft failed to detect high-frequency radio waves commonly associated with lightning. Donald Gurnett, a space physicist at the University of Iowa, suggests that if lightning exists on Venus, it may be extremely rare or very different from terrestrial lightning.
A new study documents the effectiveness of recombinant enzyme treatments for mucopolysaccharidosis 1, a rare disorder that causes progressive developmental delays and death. The genetically engineered enzyme shows significant improvement in patients' ability to get around and their overall health.
A study of 50 patients found that almost twice as many preferred disposable extended-wear lenses due to their convenience. The subjects reported no differences in vision, comfort, or eye health between the two types of lenses.
Researchers at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center found that the right hemisphere helps people recognize themselves in pictures. The study used morphed images blending a patient's face with famous faces and showed that patients' right brains could recognize their own faces even when anesthetized, but not when only the left brain was ...
Researchers discover a ring species of greenish warblers with gradually changing behavioral and genetic characteristics encircling the Tibetan Plateau. The study reveals how small evolutionary changes can lead to reproductive isolation between species.
A study of nearly 10,000 children in the UK found that obese children are at greater risk of developing asthma. The researchers discovered a significant association between weight and respiratory symptoms, with the heaviest children more likely to experience wheezing and asthma attacks.
Structural engineers at UCSD are researching ways to stabilize fragile cliffs along the US coastline, particularly in San Diego County. Their comprehensive guidebook aims to provide proactive solutions to prevent erosion and destruction, while maintaining environmental integrity.
A study led by Dr. William Bensinger found that patients undergoing stem-cell transplantation lived longer than those receiving marrow transplants, especially for high-risk blood cancers. The study also showed lower rates of acute and chronic graft-versus-host disease with stem cells.
A University of Florida study found that an antibacterial agent in some asthma medications can cause airway constriction, potentially reducing the effectiveness of rescue medicine. The researchers call on parents and healthcare professionals to choose products without benzalkonium chloride.
A recent study found that nearly half of military women are uncomfortable going on sick call for genitourinary infections while deployed. Women's health issues, including urinary tract infections and vaginitis, can compromise duty performance and cause significant time loss.
Scientists at Princess Margaret Hospital have discovered the role of CD45 in regulating cellular signals and found that it acts as an 'off switch' to prevent diseases. The discovery could lead to targeted treatments for chronic diseases such as diabetes, cancer and heart disease by controlling the body's immune response.
Scientists from Japan, US, and UK collaborate to build instruments for Solar-B, a satellite studying the Sun's magnetic field and its impact on Earth's climate. The mission aims to understand how magnetic fields interact with the Sun's atmosphere and release energy in solar flares and coronal mass ejections.
SEQUENOM successfully validated the largest collection of gene-based SNPs to date, identifying 3,148 previously unknown SNPs. The company's MassARRAY system enabled rapid and high precision SNP allele frequency determination in pooled DNA samples.
A study of 79,839 middle-aged women found that higher consumption of fish and n3 polyunsaturated fatty acids was linked to a lower risk of thrombotic stroke. Women who ate fish more frequently had a significant reduction in stroke risk, with the greatest benefit seen among those who didn't take aspirin regularly.
A new study by Brookhaven National Laboratory researchers shows that Ritalin significantly increases dopamine levels in the brain, stimulating attention and motivational circuits. This increase in dopamine leads to improved focus and completion of tasks, making it an effective treatment for ADHD.
The AAPS PharmSci theme issue delves into the current status of personalized medicine and its promises and limitations. The issue explores new technologies, genetic testing, and individualized approaches to drug therapy.
A team of researchers has developed an experimental HIV-1 vaccine specifically designed to combat the rising HIV epidemic in Nigeria, where the strain is unique and anti-HIV drugs are largely unavailable. The vaccine uses innovative technologies to induce strong antiviral immunity and has shown promising results in preclinical testing.
A study by Ashish K. Jha and colleagues found that black patients in VA hospitals had lower mortality rates than white patients for six common medical diagnoses, including pneumonia, angina, and diabetes. The survival advantage was consistent across disease, age, financial status, and hospital-level subgroups.
A new study reveals that warmer surface temperatures during summers can cause ice shelves to collapse, leading to increased ice flow and sea-level rise. The research found that added pressure from meltwater can crack ice shelves, causing portions to float away and eventually melt.
Dr. Baerbel K. Lucchitta's research finds that some Martian outflow channels display similar characteristics to those on the Antarctic sea floor, carved by ice streams. The study suggests an ancient ocean may have existed in Mars' northern plains.
A University of Cincinnati biochemist has discovered that the V3 loop region of the HIV gp120 protein is structurally flexible, changing its shape as needed to bind to host cells. This finding rules out using a fixed structure as a target for anti-HIV drugs, making it harder to develop effective treatments.
NASA has launched a new Second Generation Reusable Launch Vehicle program office at the Marshall Space Flight Center, aiming to develop a safer and less expensive launch system. The program seeks proposals from industry and academia to reduce business and technical risk.
A new study reveals that Ph.D. training often fails to prepare students for careers outside of academia, despite their desire to do so. Key findings include a lack of understanding about non-academic career options and inadequate preparation for teaching and service activities.
Scientists found that warmer surface temperatures can splinter an ice shelf and prime it for a major collapse. The process is triggered by the added pressure from surface water filling crevasses, which can crack the ice entirely through.
Cornell University Library is exploring the idea of creating permanent digital archives for scholarly journals, known as Project Harvest. The project aims to address concerns about preserving literature that is now being distributed in electronic form.
Researchers found African Americans hospitalized at VA centers have a 25% lower mortality rate compared to white patients. The study suggests equal access to care may be the key factor behind this finding, but more research is needed to understand the underlying reasons.
A new study from the University at Buffalo reveals that obese individuals carry a massive oxidative load that increases their risk of heart disease. Severe calorie restriction decreases free radical production by over 50%, reducing the risk of developing heart disease without medication.
Research highlights the benefits of physical activity in reducing heart disease risk in women with diabetes. Regular walking and faster walking paces were associated with even lower risks. Additionally, a study suggests that ursodiol may reduce colon cancer risk for some patients with ulcerative colitis.
Research reveals complex molecular changes in Lyme bacteria during tick feeding, leading to variable surface protein expressions. This complexity makes it challenging to develop effective vaccines, but understanding the biology of transmission may lead to better vaccine candidates.
Researchers at Penn State aim to improve flood prediction by evaluating past storms with different forecasting methods. They found that convective parameterization schemes can help forecast rainfall, but the best scheme varies depending on the season and atmospheric conditions.
Researchers found that El Niño events result in wetter oceans and drier land areas, with droughts more common than floods. Global precipitation patterns show an increase in rain over the Indian monsoon region and a decrease over central Africa during these events.
A new study assesses the effects of therapeutic doses of oral Ritalin on dopamine levels in healthy, adult male subjects, revealing increased dopamine levels and potential improvement in attention and focus for ADHD symptoms.
A recent study found that individuals clinically identified as substance abusers have an elevated risk of injury. Alcohol-and-drug abusers had the highest risk of injury, followed by those who abused only one type of substance.
Researchers propose a blood test to diagnose schizophrenia by measuring the levels of mRNA molecules encoding D3 dopamine receptors on white blood cells. This test may help assess the biological basis of the disease, which is still unknown.
Researchers develop new therapies targeting related virus proteins, aiming to neutralize the effects of smallpox. The US population is highly susceptible due to low vaccination rates and limited vaccine stockpiles.
A study by NASA researchers found that the eastern U.S. has cooled by 0.1° Celsius per decade, contrasting with global warming. The researchers attribute this cooling to increased cloud cover caused by warmer ocean temperatures in the Pacific.
Research suggests that specific cognitive processes, individual characteristics, and environmental conditions influence alcohol's effects on behavioral control. Alcohol can impair cognitive control of response inhibition, but this effect varies among individuals.
Research reveals CPY26 degrades retinoic acid to establish uneven distribution, crucial for normal embryonic development. Elevated RA levels in Cpy26 mutant mice lead to severe developmental defects, highlighting the enzyme's protective role.
The Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider (RHIC) has created nuclear matter with the highest energy density ever achieved, opening a new frontier in scientific exploration. The experiment also reveals striking differences from previous experiments, hinting at new phenomena and a possible transition to quark-gluon plasma.
Researchers have identified the three-dimensional atomic structure of a critical gene-regulating molecule, revealing its importance in human diseases such as cancers, autoimmune disorders, and developmental disorders. The discovery could lead to the development of new treatments and therapies for these conditions.
As people age, they experience a decrease in muscle strength, but an increase in endurance. To address this issue, Maury Nussbaum and Laura Wojcik are conducting a study to understand how tasks can be adjusted to accommodate older workers' work capacity.
A Penn State researcher explains how atmospheric chemistry can alter the composition of air, affecting environmental quality, and how pollutants like acetone and formaldehyde contribute to ozone production. The study also explores the role of nitrogen oxide in complex chemical reactions that produce hydrogen oxides.
A laboratory study found that vitamin E concentrations did not interfere with the killing of cancer cells by radiation therapy. However, the study's limitations mean that the impact on real-world treatment outcomes is unclear.
Researchers found that aerobic exercise improved specific areas of cognitive function, including memory and executive functions, beyond what was expected after depression lifted. The study suggests that exercise may offset some mental declines associated with aging.
A California-based study found significant ethnic differences in DUI arrest rates and healthcare service utilization among Hispanic populations, particularly Mexican Americans. Despite higher rates of heavy drinking, this group tends to underutilize health services, with lower utilization among those born in Mexico.
A short, confidential questionnaire can detect adolescent experimental smoking and identify those at high risk of nicotine addiction. The survey correctly identified 92% of smokers and found that smoking frequency increases with grade level, social influences play a role in initiation.
Children exposed to environmental tobacco smoke are at increased risk for asthma and wheezing, with effects strongest among youngest children. Exposure also associated with school absences and low lung function in older kids, highlighting the importance of preventing smoking exposure through home and public restrictions.
A Duke University study reveals that long-term genetic instability in cancer cells can be induced by stresses beyond DNA damage, including nutrient starvation and heat. This persistent genetic instability may play a key role in carcinogenesis and could help explain the large number of mutations seen in cancer cells.
Columbia University researchers found that synchronizing light therapy with a person's biological clock doubles its effectiveness as a treatment for winter depression. The most effective time was 8.5 hours after melatonin onset, which can be estimated by examining the patient's sleeping pattern.
Researchers have identified a flavin monooxygenase-like enzyme central to auxin biosynthesis in plants, revealing an important pathway for auxin synthesis. The discovery offers clues that may aid researchers studying similar enzymes in mammals.
A new study reveals English schoolchildren enjoy learning and teachers the least, while Danish children are more positive about their educational experience. In contrast, French schools emphasize academic objectives, leading to a stronger sense of social identity among pupils.
A genetically modified monkey, ANDi, carrying an extra gene may suggest a way to speed new treatments for human conditions. The modification method used could lead to laboratory animals carrying genes associated with specific medical conditions.
Researchers have pinpointed the first human gene that controls circadian rhythm, a discovery that raises hopes for treating sleep problems in adolescents, the elderly, and shift workers. The study found a mutation in the hPer2 gene, which is responsible for familial advanced sleep-phase syndrome.
Scientists have developed a novel approach to inhibit protein kinase enzymes, which play a crucial role in triggering cancers, hardening of the arteries, and autoimmune diseases. The researchers' bisubstrate analogs effectively prevent these enzymes from working, offering a promising therapeutic strategy for various diseases.
The article highlights the risk of biological warfare, citing the existence of frozen stocks of smallpox virus and conventional biological agents. Genetic engineering also poses a threat, as microbiologists' knowledge could be used to create novel, deadly pathogens.
Researchers discovered a plausible mechanism for a cancer-causing gene found in aberrant bone marrow cells. The study reveals the function of SET, a protein that helps regulate gene activity and protects cell integrity.
Researchers have discovered a crucial genetic element that regulates alpha-synuclein protein activity, which is involved in both inherited and non-inherited forms of Parkinson's disease. By identifying this element, scientists hope to gain insights into the underlying mechanisms of the devastating disease.