PediPump, a small rotary dynamic VAD, demonstrates excellent hemodynamic performance in children. Researchers plan to further reduce its size to enable implantation as a totally implantable pediatric VAD.
The coelacanth genome provides insights into its evolutionary relationships with other animals, particularly in embryonic development and immunity. The study sheds light on how the species' genes differ from those of other fishes and tetrapods.
Despite progress, most US babies are not fully covered under newborn screening programs. Currently, 23 states screen for over 20 disorders, while others have limited or no testing.
A new guide from the Better Hearing Institute provides parents with tools to recognize and address hearing loss in children, which can impact academic performance and development. The guide offers treatment options and resources for parents to overcome stigma associated with hearing aids.
A study by University of Illinois-Chicago researchers found that a plasminogen system component called PAI-1 actually enhances muscle regeneration when deficient. This suggests the plasminogen system may have multiple roles in muscle repair and offers potential therapeutic targets for aging and degenerative diseases.
A new report by the European Society for Medical Oncology reveals that female lung cancer death rates in Europe are still rising, despite a 16% increase between 1990-2001. However, trends in some countries and among younger women show a decline, suggesting future hope for reducing this epidemic.
Researchers found a unique salt-tolerant enzyme in algae that shares structural similarities with human kidney enzymes. This discovery may lead to the development of new drugs targeting enzyme-based treatments.
Researchers investigate estrogen and estrogen-like drugs' ability to protect brain cells after a stroke. Preliminary data suggest that these substances can help traumatized cells survive and encourage stem cell maturation into new brain cells.
Drosophila melanogaster flies respond to dropping black discs with jumping, using both legs and wings to move away from the object. The 'giant fibre pathway' initiates a take-off sequence, involving leg stretching and wing depression.
The American Academy of Neurology has supported a bill that would expand funding scope for National Institutes of Health support of embryonic stem-cell research. This move is expected to significantly advance the field while ensuring strong ethical safeguards.
A team of astrophysicists discovered X-ray oscillations in a neutron star that provide critical information about its internal structure. The oscillations, generated by massive quakes, contain frequency vibrations that can help scientists understand the nature of neutron stars.
Researchers found a consistent relationship between ideal body mass for running performance and ground forces required at different speeds. Sprinters require more muscle and bulk, while endurance specialists need less due to lower ground forces.
A randomized trial found that promoting communication about hospice increased enrollment in 20-25% of patients within 30 days, while also providing more comprehensive end-of-life care. Intervention residents had higher rated family satisfaction and lower acute care admissions.
Researchers have developed a new process that can efficiently break down paper into soluble sugars, potentially providing a solution to the global wastepaper glut. The method uses designer cellulosomes with unique enzymes that work together effectively to degrade cellulose chains.
The new program predicts both protein sequences and untranslated regions, revealing novel insights into gene regulation. By identifying correct transcription start sites and spliced untranslated regions, scientists can better understand gene function and regulation.
RIT's new gravitySimulator supercomputer can simulate galaxy evolution with unprecedented precision, handling up to 4 million stars at once. The machine, one of only two in the world, achieves a top speed of 4 Teraflops, enabling researchers to study complex astrophysical phenomena.
Researchers found that G-protein-coupled receptors involved in detecting odors do not amplify signals like those in the eye, contradicting previous claims. Instead, cells can bind to multiple receptors or express the same receptor to enhance sensitivity.
A study of 8,405 women found that moderate or severe vasomotor symptoms were reported by 21.2% of former hormone therapy users, compared to 4.8% of placebo group respondents. Lifestyle and medical strategies may help manage symptoms after discontinuing hormone therapy.
A study by Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health found that the US spends more on healthcare than any other country due to higher prices for health care goods and services. Defensivemedicine contributes more to higher health spending than malpractice premiums.
A microbial fuel cell has been created by Washington University researchers that generates electricity and treats wastewater, a process with potential to power 900 American homes. The device uses a carbon-based foam and bacteria to produce electricity from organic matter in wastewater.
Research suggests people with poor inhibitory ability are more likely to behave inappropriately, even when trying to follow social norms. Inhibitory ability is disrupted under demanding conditions, affecting individuals' ability to suppress true feelings.
Researchers found a clear link between mesothelioma and residential proximity to ultramafic rock, the source of naturally occurring asbestos. The odds of developing mesothelioma fell by 6.3 percent for every 10 kilometers from an asbestos source.
Researchers discovered that hawkmoth caterpillars infected with non-pathogenic bacteria produce antibacterial peptides that confer resistance against lethal insect pathogens. This finding suggests that field-immunized insects may exhibit different immune responses than laboratory models, challenging the validity of current studies.
Researchers found that transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) is as effective as electro-shock therapy in alleviating severe depression. However, TMS has fewer side effects, particularly memory impairment. Patients treated with TMS showed significant improvement in mood without affecting the hippocampus.
Researchers use stable isotopes in epiphytes to measure changes in photosynthesis and water evaporation, providing indicators of climate change. The findings suggest that these plants could be used as bioindicators of climate change in tropical regions.
Scientists at Max Planck Institute discovered that activity patterns on scale-free networks have unusual dynamic properties, robust against random perturbations but sensitive to selective ones. These networks can store and retrieve fixed patterns, making them suitable for associative memories and pattern recognition.
The incidence of hepatitis A in the US has dropped substantially since 1990, with a 76% decline to 2.6 per 100,000 people. Children under 18 years old have been disproportionately affected, with a 87% decrease in cases.
Virginia Bioinformatics Institute researcher receives USDA functional genomics grant to develop control of major soybean pathogen, with a focus on early stages of infection and whole genome approach. The project aims to understand the complex web of interactions between pathogens and plant genes.
Researchers at Purdue University have determined the combined structure of Coxsackievirus A21 and ICAM-1, a receptor molecule that enables the virus to infect host cells. The study reveals how the virus recognizes and anchors to the cell, providing insights into the initial stages of infection.
The Gerontological Society of America has announced the 2005 Hartford Pre-Dissertation Award recipients, recognizing outstanding young researchers in gerontology. The award aims to support and develop research skills among PhD students, with this year's winners attending workshops at various conferences.
A study of depressed heart patients found that those with low heart rate variability were nearly three times more likely to die after a heart attack. Researchers hope that treating depression and correcting heart rate variability may offer improved survival rates for these patients.
A team of scientists has successfully separated spin from charge in a quantum wire, allowing it to progress independently along its length. This achievement demonstrates the phenomenon predicted six decades ago and has significant implications for our understanding of electron behavior.
The Rice nanophotonics lab has been awarded a $3 million NSF grant to train graduate students in the emerging field of nano-optics. The program aims to create leaders with technical and professional skills needed for breakthroughs in advanced technologies, including biomedicine, environmental remediation, and homeland security.
The NIH is funding eleven High-End Instrumentation grants, worth nearly $18 million, to support the purchase of new state-of-the-art equipment. These instruments will enable researchers to accelerate their studies into the underlying mechanisms of disease.
UCR research shows that increasing plant vitamin C levels can minimize ozone's damaging effects, reducing brown spots, stunted size, and lowered crop yields. The study found that higher vitamin C levels in plants also improve photosynthesis, offering a clear direction for developing plants that can thrive in high-ozone environments.
A study published in the Proceedings of the Royal Society reveals that in specific situations, unrelated African cichlid fish helpers must contribute more to their group to gain access and benefits. By analyzing genetic relatedness and behavioral observations, researchers found that under certain ecological conditions, non-relatives ta...