A study by UC Berkeley researchers found that even brief contact with wood or leaf litter increases the risk of tick exposure. Precautions such as avoiding prolonged contact and inspecting skin carefully are recommended for people frequenting endemic areas.
Researchers at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory have developed a novel technique to quantify stratospheric ozone in the upper troposphere. This allows for better understanding of how much ozone is transported from the stratosphere to the upper troposphere, affecting climate and atmospheric chemistry.
The aquarium trade poses a significant threat to marine and freshwater ecosystems due to the introduction of invasive species. Experts recommend regulating the industry by listing safer alternatives and using bonds to cover potential damage costs.
Researchers have found that Earth's magnetic field reversal events occur within certain time-frames, regardless of the polarity of the reversal. The overall average duration is 7,000 years, but variation depends on latitude, with changes taking half as long at low-latitude sites.
A new experimental drug has shown to completely prevent arrhythmia-related deaths in mice with the same molecular defect as people with heart failure. The drug works by patching a leak in the heart's calcium channel, which can trigger fatal arrhythmias, and has great potential for slowing the progression of heart failure.
Researchers use X-ray detectors and rocket-triggered lightning to study lightning's complexities. They found that lightning flickers in X-rays at 10,000 times the speed of visible light, with X-ray energies extending up to twice those of a chest X-ray.
The web-based program calculates thermal radiation, seismic shaking, ejecta deposition, and air-blast effects based on user input distance from impact site. It provides detailed descriptions of damage severity, including ignition times for grass and wood, shaking intensity levels, and debris particle sizes.
A new study reveals that torcetrapib significantly increases levels of HDL cholesterol in patients with low levels, which can help reduce the risk of heart disease. The drug works by inhibiting the transfer of cholesterol from HDL to LDL, and its effectiveness is maintained when given in combination with a statin.
Indiana University professors Christopher Beckwith, Mary Ellen Brown, Ellen Ketterson, and Loren Rieseberg have been awarded the prestigious 2004 Guggenheim Fellowships. The grants will support their research on topics including bird sexual behavior, plant species evolution, and Central Eurasian history.
Researchers found that children taking additional zinc sulphate on a daily basis showed faster improvement in their ADHD symptoms compared to those taking a placebo. The study's results suggest a potential role of zinc deficiency in the pathogenesis of ADHD and highlight the need for further research.
A 10-year study found that laparoscopic surgery for colorectal cancer has the same prognosis as conventional surgery, with a 76% 5-year survival rate. The procedure resulted in shorter postoperative recovery times but longer surgery durations compared to conventional surgery.
A study found that large and rapid workplace expansions increase the risk of long-term sickness absence and hospital admissions. Moderate expansion, however, showed a decreased risk of hospital admission. The authors suggest centralisation of workplace functions as a possible cause.
Researchers have discovered the remains of a 9,500-year-old human-cat burial on Cyprus, providing the oldest known evidence of cat taming. The find, published in Science journal, suggests that humans may have begun taming wild cats earlier than previously thought, around 11,000 years ago.
Researchers have discovered that insect-derived antimicrobial peptides, such as pyrrhocoricin, can penetrate human dendritic cells and fibroblasts, potentially leading to new vaccine and immune therapies. The peptides are being explored as drug-delivery vehicles for peptide or peptide-based drugs that normally cannot cross cell membranes.
Individuals with first-time epileptic seizures after 60 years are three times more likely to experience a subsequent stroke. This increased risk justifies screening for vascular risk factors and treatment to prevent stroke in elderly patients with epilepsy.
Researchers have created a microgel that can recover costly enzymes, overcoming significant obstacles in using natural enzymes in laboratory and industrial settings. The microgel enables efficient enzyme recovery, allowing for repeated use in catalyzing commercially important reactions.
A new study by researchers at Case Western Reserve University has found that an abnormal form of the prion protein from one mammal species can infect another species, bypassing natural barriers. This discovery sheds light on the mechanisms behind prion diseases like mad cow disease and Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease.
Scientists discovered that rapid Arctic warming is releasing ancient carbon into the ocean. Researchers also found a correlation between plasmasphere rotation and Earth's rotation lag, which affects models simulating Earth's plasmaspheric dynamics. Additionally, new models of North Atlantic Ocean circulation can now be run on personal ...
Astronomers have successfully detected their first two near-Earth asteroids (NEAs) using a refurbished telescope at the Australian National University's Siding Spring Observatory. The discoveries, made on March 29, include an 100-meter and 300-meter asteroid that pose no direct threat to Earth.
Alpine tree lines are shifting up-slope due to global warming, threatening regional plant populations. The study suggests that pine trees could help protect drinking water catchments from erosion and pollution in the City of Vienna.
Researchers at U.Va. Health System devise method to extract membrane proteins by using chemicals that allow them to be reversibly folded and refolded. This allows for structural and functional studies of the proteins using crystallography or nuclear magnetic resonance imaging.