Researchers discovered that BAG5 protein enhances dopaminergic neuron death and inhibits parkin activity, leading to increased neuronal death. Inhibiting BAG5 increases neuronal survival, suggesting a potential therapeutic target for neurodegenerative diseases like Parkinson's.
A new laser scalpel allows for precise cutting of nerves in worms, enabling researchers to study the basic mechanisms of nerve regeneration. The technique involves making mutations in genes believed to be involved in nerve regeneration and observing the effects on regeneration following laser severing of the nerves.
A study by Penn State researchers reveals that repeated abuse can have a significant impact on bystanders, causing moderate to severe psychological and physiological repercussions. The study found that bystanders experience elevated emotional arousal when recalling past episodes of abuse, similar to victims.
Researchers found that apocynin reduced ROS production in fat cells, restored adipocytokine production, and improved diabetes. Accumulated fatty tissue is a major source of ROS in obesity, acting as an early trigger of metabolic syndrome.
Neurology researchers have identified an area in the prefrontal cortex that controls collecting behavior, revealing a potential link to hoarding disorders. Damage to this region can lead to abnormal hoarding behavior, interfering with daily life and causing individuals to resist discarding collected items.
A Princeton University study shows that galanin triggers desires for fatty foods and alcohol, perpetuating a cycle of positive feedback. The finding suggests the possibility of creating a drug to block galanin in fighting alcoholism.
Researchers from Rice University and international teams found a collapse of Fermi volume in quantum critical matters, leading to new insights into exotic electronic properties. This discovery may provide routes to new classes of material and shed light on high-temperature superconductivity.
A study found that offering free nicotine replacement patches increases short-term quit rates among smokers, attracting more participants to cessation programs. The researchers saw a 37% increase in program involvement and a 27% increase in short-term quit rates after providing the patches.
Research at Ohio State University suggests that global climate changed dramatically 5,200 years ago, with severe impacts on emerging cultures. The team found evidence of sudden and severe climate shifts in ice cores, tree rings, and plant pollen records from around the world.
Recent research analysis finds no significant link between oral contraceptive use and cardiovascular disease in postmenopausal women. The NHLBI emphasizes the importance of randomized controlled trials for establishing scientific evidence, citing biases and errors in exploratory analyses.
A study shows Requip significantly improves symptoms of primary RLS, including improvements in sleep and quality of life. Patients treated with Requip experienced greater improvements compared to those taking placebo.
Researchers developed a probability model to predict how many cases of anthrax could be prevented under varying conditions. The study found that antibiotics distributed within 6 days after exposure and taken for 60 days can prevent up to 70% of anthrax cases.
Individuals with obesity produce more toxic oxygen molecules that lead to changes in fat-derived hormones and contribute to the development of metabolic syndrome. Treatment with antioxidants reduces ROS production and improves diabetes symptoms.
Scientists studied intercontinental smog ozone processes associated with the brown cloud over South Asia using a new NASA technique combining satellite and balloon data. The study found that both brown cloud pollution and natural processes contribute to unhealthy levels of ozone in the troposphere.
The NSF grant will fund the Math Leadership Institute at Rice University, aiming to improve high school math instruction in Houston and Aldine ISD. Lead teachers will receive intensive training and support to develop leadership skills and provide effective math instruction techniques.
The project aims to present evidence for the existence of ultra-psychrophiles in sub-freezing environments like Alaskan permafrost. The research has broader impacts, including more reliable climate predictions and development of efficient biocatalysts for below freezing temperatures.
Dr. Smol, a renowned environmental scientist, has made significant contributions to the field of paleolimnology through his research on long-term environmental change. His work has been recognized with the Council's highest honour, the Herzberg Gold Medal, and $1 million in funding.
Women who averaged less than six hours of sleep per night had significantly longer labors and were more likely to have cesarean deliveries. The study also found that women who reported having poor sleep quality were more likely to experience these outcomes.
A team of Cardiff University researchers has secured a £15 million grant to explore DNA damage and disease. The group aims to unravel the complexities of how cells maintain their chromosomes, ultimately establishing cancer risks for individuals and designing new anti-cancer drugs.
Research demonstrates that platelet aggregation and the release of LPA support bone metastases in breast cancer. Inhibiting platelet activity with Integrilin or targeting LPA signaling may slow tumor growth and reduce metastasis.
Researchers at Johns Hopkins Medicine have identified a protein called semaphorin 5A that prevents nerve growth after injury. By blocking its interaction with CSPGs, nerves can be freed to continue growing.
A new NASA book, 'Touch the Sun,' allows visually impaired students to explore solar science through embossed color pictures, Braille, and large-print descriptions. The book features 16 photographs of the sun and space weather, selected by Dr. Joseph Gurman and Steele Hill.
The Van Allen Radiation Belt Slot, considered a safe zone, filled with concentrated radiation during the October and November 2003 solar storms. The radiation surge was the most intense ever observed in this region, posing significant risks to spacecraft.
Researchers have developed a femtosecond laser nanosurgery technique to study genetic and molecular factors controlling nerve regeneration in C. elegans worms. The technique allowed for precise axon severing, enabling rapid recovery of function and new insights into neural regeneration.
Researchers analyzed 829 S. aureus strains from Rotterdam and found three major and two minor genetic clusters, mirroring UK study results. However, the new study identified hypervirulent clones associated with serious infections in healthy carriers.
Roger Bilham warns that Iran is the worst offender, with one in 3,000 Iranians dying in an earthquake since 1900. The professor emphasizes the need for earthquake education to prevent fatalities in developing nations.
Yale researchers, Jorge Galán, Ruslan Medzhitov, and John Carlson, have been awarded $3 million to investigate Campylobacter jejuni and its impact on the immune system. The funding will support their work in understanding infectious disease mechanisms and developing new treatments.
Researchers found plant samples dating back at least 50,000 years, suggesting the ice cap's current size may not have changed in that time. The discovery implies a possible decrease in global climate change over the past 50,000 years.
The INEEL-designed Munitions Assessment System processes drums containing multiple chemical munitions, using digital radiography and computed tomography to identify chemical fill. The system also includes portable isotopic neutron spectroscopy for accurate chemical analysis.
A multicenter study found women attempting vaginal birth after C-section (VBAC) face increased risk of maternal morbidity and serious obstetric complications. Conversely, elective repeat cesarean delivery shows lower risks for these complications.
The study found that 82% of participants tested positive for HPV infection, with many infected with multiple types. High-risk HPV types were detected in 39% of swab specimens, and clinically abnormal cervical exam results were seen in 37% of participants.
Researchers found that people with higher anxiety tend to react more quickly to fearful faces, indicating heightened emotional vigilance. The study also pinpoints the basolateral region of the amygdala as crucial for unconscious processing of threats.
Columbia University Irving Medical Center affiliate Harlem Hospital Center will fund aggressive screening program for glaucoma, which disproportionately affects African Americans. The hospital has demonstrated an impressive job in screening the community for this devastating condition.
The study found that immigrants living in the US for over 15 years have a higher BMI and obesity rate compared to those living less than 1 year. Early clinician intervention on diet and physical activity may help prevent weight gain and obesity-related chronic illnesses among immigrant populations.
A new NASA tool called Giovanni allows high school and college students to access and analyze satellite-derived ocean color data, providing insights into ocean biology. The tool uses chlorophyll patterns to study phytoplankton growth and its connection to El Nino/La Nina events.
A pioneering North Sea fisheries management plan proposes recognizing fishermen's role in protecting the marine ecosystem. The plan, developed by Newcastle University scientists, aims to promote sustainable fishing practices and involve fishermen in decision-making.
The new AEM will enable researchers to gain new insights into the interrelationships between atomic arrangement and material properties. It will support projects in fuel cell research, magnetic nanostructures, smart coatings, semiconductor quantum dots and biomedical research.
Aura is providing unprecedented spatial resolution to monitor global pollution production and transport, offering new insights into climate changes and the recovery of the Earth's protective stratospheric ozone layer. The satellite's instruments study tropospheric chemistry and provide daily global monitoring of air pollution.
UT Southwestern researchers developed a gene-based vaccine to stimulate immune systems against amyloid protein, reducing plaque buildup and cognitive loss in mice. The study aims to create a safe and effective Alzheimer's vaccine that can prevent or slow disease progression.
Dwarf mistletoe has an extreme water-pump seed ejection system that fires seeds up to 20 meters. This discovery could aid disease control by targeting the unique characteristics of dwarf mistletoe reproduction.
Researchers found that infectious prions can survive digestive juices and cross the human intestinal barrier by linking with ferritin, an iron-storing protein. This breakthrough discovery provides insight into the mechanisms of prion transmission and may lead to the development of methods to block prion uptake.
A study of 646 breast cancer survivors in Quebec found that only slightly more women were unemployed at the end of three years compared to a similar group without cancer. Most women who stopped working did so voluntarily, and negative events like firings were rare in both groups.
A study found that immigrants to the US are at higher risk of obesity due to acculturation and limited access to healthcare. As they spend more time in the country, their body mass index increases, suggesting a threshold effect.
International study shows select improvements in US math and science performance, particularly among minority students. Fourth-grade students showed no change, while eighth-grade students made notable progress, especially in algebra and science.
Scientists have discovered a way to manage angiogenesis by stimulating monocytes with GM-CSF, which produces soluble receptors that inhibit the formation of new blood vessels. The approach could provide a new therapeutic strategy for cancer treatment.
Researchers have discovered cellular changes in animal retinas that occur in human retinal detachments, implying experimental therapies could be effective. Oxygen therapy has been shown to reduce cellular damage and improve outcomes in animals, and further studies suggest it may also benefit humans.
Researchers found that a diet-restricted group of mice showed a 50% reduction in beta-amyloid plaques, a substance linked to memory loss and Alzheimer's disease. The study, conducted with collaborators at the University of South Florida, used mice with human genes altered for early onset hereditary Alzheimer's.
A Stanford study found that infusing bone marrow cells from a donor mouse into laboratory mice before chemotherapy can significantly improve their ability to fight infections and survive. This new approach boosts neutrophil production, reducing the risk of neutropenia-related complications.
Researchers at MIT used nanotechnology to study how malaria affects human blood cells, revealing new insights into the disease's impact. The study could lead to better treatments for malaria and other diseases by understanding how parasites affect cell behavior and function.
Researchers at the University of Georgia are developing a stem cell-based drug assay to identify promising treatments for Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA), a group of inherited diseases that destroy nerves necessary for voluntary muscle movement. The goal is to accelerate development of safe and effective treatments by late 2007.
The thermohaline circulation plays a vital role in maintaining current climate patterns. A shutdown could lead to regional climate change and extreme weather events in eastern North America and western Europe.
Researchers have developed a new mouse model of Leber congenital amaurosis, a rare form of childhood blindness. The model, which lacks the AIPL1 gene, closely mimics the inherited human disease and shows severe retinal degeneration starting around two weeks of life.
Scientists are using NASA's ICESat satellite to measure the height of dynamic features such as ice sheets, glaciers, forests, and clouds. The satellite's laser instruments provide unprecedented accuracy in measuring changes in elevation, including accelerated glacier movement in Antarctica and thinner ice on West Antarctic ice sheet.
Scientists have found significant acceleration in the world's fastest glacier, Jakobshavn Isbrae, which nearly doubled its discharge of ice between 1997 and 2003. Meanwhile, Arctic sea ice has been declining at an alarming rate, with some areas experiencing 9.2% per decade decline.
In a groundbreaking study, researchers confirmed that wild capuchin monkeys in northeastern Brazil routinely crack open palm nuts using heavy stones. The behavior was previously observed only in chimpanzees and other primates. This finding expands our understanding of tool use among non-human primates.
A Purdue University scientist has discovered that gamma-tocopherol, a form of vitamin E found in plant seeds, can inhibit the growth of prostate and lung cancer cells without harming healthy cells. The study suggests that supplementing with mixed forms of vitamin E may enhance its anticancer effects.
The Florida State University-led project aims to improve the nation's electric delivery system by identifying vulnerabilities and exploring new technologies, including superconducting materials. The initiative will also focus on making the grid more reliable and less susceptible to power outages caused by events like terrorism.
A new blood test can accurately diagnose neuromyelitis optica (NMO), a debilitating inflammatory disease that destroys the protective myelin sheath around the optic nerve and spinal cord. Early diagnosis with this biomarker enables optimal therapies to be started sooner, potentially lessening the impact of the disease.
Researchers have found that variations in the SLAM/CD2 gene cluster may contribute to autoimmune disease SLE in mice. The study suggests that altered members of this family may be responsible for abnormal lymphocyte responses.
New research suggests a link between galanin and alcohol consumption, as well as its effects on food intake. Galanin was found to increase voluntary alcohol intake in rodents, but not food intake. A galanin receptor antagonist also reduced alcohol drinking, suggesting a potential role for these compounds in treating alcohol dependence.