A three-year course in the stock market and investing resulted in improved attendance and academic performance among at-risk middle school students. The program, which allowed students to buy shares of stock by improving their grades and attendance, showed statistically significant gains in vocabulary, reading comprehension, and applie...
A new adhesive inspired by mussel protein has been developed, offering superior strength and water resistance. The adhesive is made from natural resources such as soy flour and lignin and does not use formaldehyde or other toxic chemicals.
Researchers at Carnegie Mellon and University of Pittsburgh have created a new method to calculate the phase-resetting curve (PRC) of living neurons, which can help elucidate mechanisms for neural synchrony and study learning. The tool combines computational and experimental approaches to simplify complex dynamics of single neurons.
A randomized treatment trial found that amblyopia treatment improved visual acuity in 53% of seven- to 12-year-olds and 25% of 13- to 17-year-olds. However, the authors note that sustained improvement is unknown after treatment discontinuation.
Researchers found that public school students from similar social and economic backgrounds outperformed their peers in private schools on national math achievement tests. The study's findings call into question common assumptions about public and private school effects.
Researchers have successfully cloned meat and milk from bulls and cows, showing no significant differences in quality compared to naturally bred animals. Meanwhile, a study suggests that early humans may have driven elephant extinctions on multiple continents.
A study found that deep brain stimulation with STN and GPi targets improves off-medication motor scores and levodopa-induced dyskinesia for at least one year. STN stimulation may be better for younger patients with prominent bradykinesia, while GPi stimulation is better suited for dose-limiting dyskinesia.
A new study reveals that overfishing of sharks triggers a domino effect of changes in abundance, contributing to the degradation of Caribbean reefs. The researchers found that sharks play a crucial role in maintaining the stability of the ecosystem, and their removal can lead to a decline in plant-eating fish populations.
A new study suggests that mammography is catching breast cancer earlier, but the increasing number of in situ cancers poses a challenge to healthcare professionals. The researchers found a sixfold increase in noncomedo DCIS and a nearly fourfold increase in LCIS among postmenopausal women.
The TRUST consortium, funded by NSF's Science and Technology Centers program, aims to create new technologies that make computer software and networks inherently secure. Researchers will focus on protecting against attacks, ensuring data integrity, and developing tools for building trustworthy systems.
A new painless diagnostic test for Sjögren's syndrome could be available in two to three years, promising faster diagnosis and reduced severity of symptoms. The test involves analyzing teardrops collected from patients' eyes, which may help identify specific protein biomarkers for the disease.
A team of researchers has discovered a neural mechanism related to impulsive decision-making in pigeons. The study found that single neurons in the avian forebrain show increased activity when anticipating rewards, with activation levels decreasing as delays increase, leading to preferences for immediate over delayed rewards. This brea...
A Hopkins study found that treating older children with amblyopia can be effective in improving vision. The research challenged traditional age-based treatment guidelines, showing success in teenagers as young as 13. While some visual impairment remains, the treatment offers hope for improved sight.
The Team for Research in Ubiquitous Secure Technology (TRUST) center aims to develop new technologies to design, build, and operate trustworthy information systems. The researchers will focus on developing secure embedded systems, integrating trusted components, and creating information management software tools.
Researchers have demonstrated that NMDA receptors are actively needed for both associative learning and long-term memory. Disrupting the receptor resulted in difficulties with learning to associate an odor with a footshock, but not with initial learning through training.
The American Chemical Society's Academic Employment Initiative (AEI) offers advice on applying for chemistry faculty positions. AEI aims to broaden the hiring process to include more women, minorities, and candidates from lesser-known universities. The initiative emphasizes research fit and highlighting one's unique qualities.
A study by Texas A&M University psychologist David H. Rosen found that watching a comedy video significantly increased participants' scores for hopefulness. The finding suggests humor can be a legitimate strategy for relieving stress and maintaining well-being while increasing hope.
Scientists create biochips that allow analysis of cells using fluorescent chemicals and tiny lasers, enabling examination of cellular conditions for diseases and developing new treatments. The technology has the potential to create small diagnostic devices for medical diagnostics, improving patient treatment by reducing hospital visits.
Researchers identified a gene variant that increases the risk of rheumatism, MS, and myocardial infarction by 20-40%. The discovery may lead to more reliable diagnostics and better treatments for patients.
Researchers used microarray data to determine the order of genes in a pathway that results in a particular phenotype. By analyzing the interactions between genes, they were able to reconstruct the pathway and prove that gene A comes before gene B.
Adolescent girls who engage in radical weight-control behaviors, depression, and perceive their parents' weight as obese are more likely to become obese. Erratic eating and lack of exercise do not strongly predict obesity.
Researchers found that ephrin subtype EphrinB activates the EphB receptor, triggering a chemical pathway that stimulates synaptojanin-1 enzyme, essential for cellular endocytosis. This process is crucial for neurotransmitter regulation and nerve cell function.
Scientists have developed a new breed of fibre-optic sensors that can measure strain, detect movements, and monitor blast-waves with high accuracy. These sensors promise to revolutionize safety monitoring in various industries.
Research by Dr. Michael Murphy suggests that the fine structure constant, governing electromagnetic forces, may have changed over time by about one part in two-hundred-thousand during the last 10 billion years. This finding challenges existing knowledge and could have significant implications for our understanding of the universe.
This study found that 71 percent of older adults used some form of alternative medicine in 2000, with chiropractor being the most commonly used. The findings suggest that older adults are using alternative medicine due to chronic health issues and dissatisfaction with conventional healthcare.
Research suggests that parents' messages undermine girls' confidence in math and science, while also making them less interested in pursuing these fields. Teachers can play a crucial role by providing vocational and intellectual reasons for studying math or science.
A study of 400 single mothers in Milwaukee found that an anti-poverty program increased the marriage rate by nearly doubling it compared to a control group. The New Hope Project provided benefits such as wage supplements, child care subsidies, and job support, leading to higher marriage rates among participants.
The European Space Agency recommends a mission that combines key technologies from BeagleNet, ExoMars and NASA to search for life on Mars. The rover will include instruments to study seismic phenomena and a drill capable of penetrating the surface.
A pivotal study found that CyIS significantly reduces chronic rejection and prolongs survival in lung-transplant recipients, offering hope for a breakthrough therapy to address this unmet need. The study demonstrated an 84% four-year survival rate with CyIS compared to 56% with placebo.
The Midwest Technology Assistance Center is funding research to optimize iron addition and track arsenic concentration variability in relation to time and pumping procedures. The center also evaluates water quality at surface water intakes with watershed modeling to improve small systems' technical, managerial, and financial capacity.
The University of Pennsylvania will direct a three-year project exploring the relationship between the mind and spirituality. The initiative aims to advance fields like cognitive neuroscience, theology, and philosophy by examining issues related to love, compassion, and epistemology.
Researchers at Yale University identified a novel human kidney protein called renalase that regulates both heart contraction and blood pressure. The protein is a strong candidate for easily administered treatment of advanced kidney and cardiovascular disease.
Researchers developed a new technique to detect damage in composite materials using vibration and heat detection. The vibrothermography method can identify internal damage not visible to the human eye, crucial for preventing catastrophic failures.
Researchers propose alternative explanation for fault formation at mid-ocean ridges, citing role of magma and rotation of faults. The study suggests that large offset 'oceanic core complex' faults may form due to bending of lithosphere, contradicting the previous standard model.
The new Ethics Manual revisits and expands on earlier topics, including sections on chaperones and privacy, gifts from patients, and health and human rights. The fifth edition provides an ethical framework for physicians to make complex decisions in a changing environment.
A study by OHSU scientist David Grandy found a strong correlation between dopamine supersensitivity and high-affinity D2 receptors in individuals with schizophrenia. This discovery could lead to improved treatments for schizophrenics and amphetamine abusers.
Scientists create nanobridges with consistent properties, allowing for scalable production of nanosized transistors, sensors, and lasers. The breakthrough enables the mass production of nanostructures with precise control over their dimensions.
Researchers at Wake Forest University School of Medicine have found that the liver is the main source of high-density lipoprotein (HDL), or 'good' cholesterol. This discovery could lead to new treatments for raising HDL levels, particularly in individuals with less severe cholesterol disorders.
Research suggests that post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a significant concern among refugee populations in western countries. Studies indicate that approximately 1 in 10 adults experience PTSD, while others may struggle with major depression and generalized anxiety disorders. The findings highlight the need for increased attent...
Less competition in the healthcare industry is linked to improved health plan performance on measures such as women's care and member satisfaction. However, the relationship between competition and quality is complex and requires further research.
Cantley's discovery of the PI3K signaling pathway has helped explain how normal cells turn into cancerous cells, providing a key target for future cancer treatments. His work has progressed from identifying an unusual lipid kinase activity to uncovering its central role in controlling cancer cell growth and survival.
A study found that 57% of end-of-life decisions in neonates and infants involve withdrawing or withholding treatment, with lethal doses administered in 9 cases. Doctors support legalizing termination in some cases due to the expected poor quality of life and lack of survival chances.
A recent study led by Professor Albert Zijlstra has found that up to 0.1% of a star's mass can be expelled during re-ignition, equivalent to 300 times the mass of Earth. This discovery suggests that part of the carbon in the universe may have come from these events, providing new insights into the formation of our planet.
Scientists found that P. falciparum uses gene silencing to mask its presence by packaging DNA into tight forms and preventing expression. The study also revealed the role of protein SIR2 in this process, suggesting new avenues for developing novel drugs for malaria.
Internal tobacco industry documents reveal that British American Tobacco and Reemtsma sought to secure closed deals, aiming to establish a monopoly. Effective tobacco control policies, such as comprehensive advertising bans and taxation rates, should be implemented before privatization occurs to prevent predicted increase in consumption.
Researchers found a strong association between high levels of C. pneumoniae antibodies and the occurrence of heart attacks in young men. The study suggests that C. pneumoniae may play a role in the pathogenesis of heart disease, but further research is needed to confirm the link.
Researchers have genetically altered a herpes simplex virus to selectively target and kill malignant glioma cells, with promising results in mouse studies. The modified virus can extend the lives of animals with implanted human gliomas by several days.
Researchers identify renalase as a novel protein regulating cardiac function and blood pressure. WNK1/4 interaction is also crucial for controlling human blood pressure and familial hyperkalemic hypertension (FHHt) risk.
Researchers find specific shapes of amyloid fibrils, not amino acid sequences, determine prion infectivity across species. This breakthrough offers insights into the mechanisms behind prion diseases and potential transmission between previously separate animals.
Researchers at Yale University have developed a method to remotely control fly behavior using laser light, demonstrating a direct link between specific neurons and behaviors. The technique involves genetically engineered 'phototriggers' that respond to light pulses, allowing for non-invasive control of neural activity.
Researchers tested genetic diversity on Italian agile frog tadpoles exposed to a North American virus, finding that disease susceptibility paralleled population genetic variability. The study highlights the risks of population bottlenecks and inbreeding and suggests a method for predicting responses to new infectious diseases.
Lupin flour, a common ingredient in some foods, may cause an allergic reaction in people with peanut allergies. Those with peanut allergies are advised to avoid all products containing lupin until further testing can confirm its safety.
A six-month study found that long-acting naltrexone injections reduced heavy drinking within the first month of treatment and maintained this response over time. The medication was associated with significant reductions in alcohol dependence when used in conjunction with counseling sessions.
Researchers will investigate the safety and effectiveness of polyunsaturated fatty acids derived from plants like flaxseed, echium, and borage. The studies aim to prevent and treat inflammatory diseases, with an estimated one in three Americans suffering from such conditions within two decades.
Researchers have discovered that molecular motors dynein and kinesin do not compete for control when moving cellular cargo, but instead cooperate to produce more than 10 times the speed of individual motors. This cooperative behavior allows the cargo to move faster and with greater precision inside the cell.
A new study suggests that up to 40% of the early Earth's atmosphere was composed of hydrogen, creating a more favorable climate for the production of pre-biotic organic compounds. This finding contradicts traditional models and supports the idea that life may have emerged earlier than previously thought.
African Americans with lupus have a higher prevalence of EBV-IgG antibodies and EBV-IgA antibodies, which increases the risk of lupus. Genetic variation in CTLA-4 also affects the immune response to EBV in lupus patients.
Chronic inflammation during dialysis enhances oxidative stress, leading to cardiovascular disease, malnutrition, and poor outcomes. Antioxidant supplementation and ROS modulation are proposed solutions to prevent these complications.
Scripps Research scientists identified that certain tissues are more susceptible to amyloid plaques due to their ability to efficiently release misfolded protein. The study found that cells secreting proteins into these tissues secrete the bad proteins most efficiently, making them a key factor in tissue selectivity.
Researchers found that adolescents averaging five minutes of vigorous physical activity per day were leaner and fitter than their peers. This suggests that general exercise recommendations for adolescents should encourage vigorous physical activity to help them maintain a healthy weight.