According to Lawrence R. Rabiner, voice control will become as accurate and efficient as keyboard or mouse input, allowing for a new era of human-machine interaction. Devices will be network accessible and controllable from anywhere, blurring the lines between work life and home life.
A study published in The Lancet found that people with HIV who are successfully treated with HAART and hepatitis C negative have a mortality rate similar to those with cancer. This preliminary actuarial evidence supports the idea that life coverage could be considered under specific conditions.
Researchers at Rice University have developed a technique to sort single-walled carbon nanotubes based on their electronic properties. This allows for the separation of metallic and non-metallic nanotubes, which could lead to significant advances in molecular electronics and device development.
Brookhaven chemist Mow Lin's team has developed bacteria that can use coal as a nutrient and adsorb or degrade contaminants, improving methane recovery. Laboratory tests have shown these microbes to absorb contaminant metals, degrade dissolved organics, and break down coal to release trapped methane.
A study of 276 adolescents found overweight teens with scoliosis experienced worsening curvatures despite bracing, with over half requiring surgery. The Hopkins team recommends considering weight in treatment decisions for scoliosis.
A mathematical model developed by Cornell University engineers quantifies language death and offers strategies to preserve endangered languages. The model attributes the decline of languages to competition for speakers, with higher-status languages like English dominating in multilingual societies.
A new study by Purdue University has identified countries with high risks of media bribery, with Finland ranked highest. The index evaluates 8 factors to determine the likelihood of journalists accepting cash from government officials or businesses in exchange for news coverage.
Brookhaven chemists use pulsed electron beams to initiate chemical reactions in ionic liquids, revealing unanticipated reactivity patterns. The study's findings have profound implications for uses of ionic liquids in radiation-filled environments like the nuclear fuel cycle.
Researchers at University of Wisconsin-Madison uncover a potent toxin reveals new antibiotic resistance mechanism, where bacteria deploy a protein to intercept and inactivate the toxin. This mechanism points to the fact that bacteria continue to find new routes to evade antibiotics, threatening the fight against deadly bacteria.
A new biomarker for ovarian and uterine carcinomas has been identified, associated with poor clinical outcome. L1 glycoprotein was found in 46 of 58 ovarian cancers and 20 of 72 uterine cancers, indicating a bad prognostic factor for patient survival.
Researchers at Illinois and Rice University developed a new process to chemically select and separate carbon nanotubes based on their electronic properties. The process uses reaction chemistry to create handles that can selectively manipulate metallic and semiconducting nanotubes.
Researchers have found a way to extend the lives of chilled platelets after transfusion, potentially increasing the platelet supply and making it easier to transport. This breakthrough could help more patients receive life-saving platelet transfusions.
Researchers at Princeton University have developed a new method for forming organic photovoltaic films, increasing efficiency by 50 percent. The new material is ultra-thin, flexible, and can be manufactured through printing or spraying, making it suitable for large surfaces.
Paxil has been shown to improve memory and brain structure in PTSD sufferers, with clinically significant improvements in memory and concentration observed. The study found increased hippocampal volume and decreased cortisol levels, leading to relief of PTSD symptoms.
The University of Pittsburgh Medical Center has reported significant improvements in intestine transplant survival rates since 1990, with one-year survival increasing to 90% for patients transplanted within the last five years.
A study found that 78% of patients requiring intestine transplantation had elevated manganese levels, leading to liver complications. Routine blood tests can help identify high manganese levels and prevent associated neurological symptoms.
Researchers found that pollutants like lindane and hexachlorobenzene (HCB) behave differently in the presence of organic matter and sunlight, with HCB degrading at higher rates. The study suggests that pollutants can have varying effects on local ecosystems and human health.
A recent study published in Johns Hopkins Medicine found that giving one dose of nevirapine to HIV-positive mothers during labor and their newborns reduced transmission by 41 percent. The simple regimen has the potential to prevent hundreds of thousands of new infections every year.
The National Science Foundation has announced the winners of its first-ever International Science and Engineering Visualization Challenge. Two hundred ninety-seven entries were qualified for judging, with the top prize awarded to Brandon Pletsch's 'Auditory Transduction Animation' and Dee Breger's colorized photograph 'Mongolian Frost ...
The MIT team has achieved a record-low temperature of 500 picokelvin, six times lower than the previous record of 3 nanokelvin. This breakthrough could lead to vast improvements in precision measurements and new insights into atomic physics.
A study by Harvard and Queensland universities found that 4.8 million deaths in 2000 were caused by smoking, affecting both developed and developing countries. The majority of these deaths were among men, especially in less-developed nations.
Afghanistan's Ministry of Health has made significant strides in healthcare delivery and policy planning, achieving 94% national coverage in measles vaccination. The country's example is seen as a potential blueprint for post-conflict reconstruction in other nations.
A single-dose nevirapine regimen significantly decreased the risk of HIV-1 transmission from mother to child by 47% compared to a zidovudine regimen. The regimen was found to be safe and effective in all study mothers up to six weeks after delivery and for all babies up to 18 months of age.
A new study analyzing 11,000 mammal, amphibian and bird species reveals major gaps in the global protected area system, placing over 700 species at risk of extinction. The analysis highlights urgent conservation priorities for tropical areas, islands, and specific endangered species.
A long-term study found that nevirapine sustained a 41% reduction in HIV infection risk compared to azidothymidine (AZT) in infants born to breastfeeding mothers. The regimen showed significant cost savings, approximately 70 times less than AZT treatment.