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...
Researchers report a link between dopamine agonist therapy and pathological gambling in Parkinson's disease patients. Treatment discontinuation resolves symptoms, suggesting dopamine D3 receptors may be responsible for the behavior.
Researchers have successfully created three-dimensional quasicrystals, opening up new possibilities for industrial and commercial applications. The unique optical properties of these quasicrystals have the potential to manipulate light in a way similar to semiconductors, enabling innovative functions.
Researchers found that genetically engineered flies with turned-off dopamine cells or those receiving dopamine inhibitors display converse behavioral effects to normal flies on methamphetamine. The study suggests dopamine plays a crucial role in modulating neuronal activity and assigning saliency to sensory stimuli.
Researchers found that cerebral palsy was more likely to occur in infants who had no symptoms early in life and sustained injury to deep structures of the brain. The study included over 199,000 children born between 1997 and 2002 and reported a higher rate of significant long-term neurologic impairment.
A study by Bernhard Nieswandt and colleagues reveals that mice lacking factor XII cleared blocked arteries after injury, unlike humans who develop coronary artery disease with elevated factor XII levels. The findings suggest drugs inhibiting this protein may be useful for treating certain heart diseases without increasing bleeding risk.
Gold-colored bacteria, protected by pigmented carotenoids, evade immune attack and become vulnerable when synthesizers are inhibited. This finding suggests potential new treatments for antibiotic-resistant S. aureus infections.
Illinois chemists have discovered a way to produce a highly porous network of molybdenum disulfide that preferentially exposes catalytic edges, improving sulfur removal efficiency. The new method uses ultrasonic spray pyrolysis and can be scaled up for industrial applications.
Researchers discovered that bound NADH molecules rotate more slowly, affecting fluorescence levels in diagnostic tests. This finding resolves long-standing inconsistencies and enables better interpretation of quantitative data from diagnostic techniques.
The American Chemical Society reports that chemical production and earnings have increased, while employment numbers have declined. This trend is based on the ACS's annual Facts & Figures tables, which provide detailed statistics on the US chemical industry.
Researchers found nearly equal proportions of two different sexes in a worldwide collection of 290 specimens, indicating recent evolutionary history of sexual activity. This discovery could lead to new strains with increased ability to cause disease and infect humans.
A large cohort study of over 2,798 participants aged 65 or older found no significant reduction in dementia risk among those who used statins. The authors suggest that statin exposure may need to occur earlier in adulthood or for longer periods to prevent dementia.
A recent study published in Psychological Science reveals that consonants play a crucial role in distinguishing between words, while vowels carry grammatical information. The researchers found that listeners are sensitive to this difference and can compute statistical relations among vowel sounds but not consonant sounds.
Scientists are using genomics to create a new type of hemoglobin that can be used in blood transfusions. This innovation has the potential to reduce contamination risks and make blood transfusions safer for people in emerging countries.
Researchers at the University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center discovered that curcumin stops laboratory strains of melanoma from proliferating by shutting down nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-kB). The spice also induces apoptosis, or programmed death, in cancer cells.
A study found that Lorenzo's oil therapy can prevent MRI abnormalities and neurological symptoms in patients with asymptomatic ALD. The treatment reduced saturated very long-chain fatty acid levels, which may protect against inflammatory cerebral disease.
The majority of ALS patients were never depressed during the study period, with only eight percent experiencing depression. Despite approaching death, people's attitudes towards life did not become more negative.
A new study reveals severe tissue injury in the brains of children with CCHS, disrupting cardiovascular function and breathing control. Researchers hope to develop new strategies to help the brain compensate for the injury, including injecting nerve growth factors.
Researchers found that male mounting, even without semen transfer, reduces a hen's tendency to mate with other males and decreases the number of sperm obtained from a new rooster. This behavior helps defend paternity, suggesting copulations without semen transfer have evolutionary significance.
Research highlights the need for standardized navigation programs addressing barriers to care for underserved populations. The role of navigators is also undefined, requiring more research on metrics to measure services provided.
Researchers found that a yellow-orange pigment produced by Staphylococcus aureus helps the bacteria resist neutrophil killing and produce disease. The discovery provides an novel target for treatment of serious Staph infections, including those caused by antibiotic-resistant MRSA.
Researchers at UT Southwestern Medical Center have identified ephrin-B3 as a molecule that inhibits the regrowth of spinal nerve cells. The study found that ephrin-B3, which normally helps control nerve fiber growth during embryonic development, is also present in high levels in adult myelin and blocks neuron regeneration.
A new report suggests that giving oxygen may actually do more harm than good, particularly in treating conditions like heart disease and diabetes. Adding carbon dioxide to the mix can increase blood flow and deliver more oxygen to tissues.
The study found significant variations in the quality of heart failure treatment across US hospitals, with only 24% of patients receiving complete discharge instructions. Hospitals with better performance measures had fourfold lower mortality rates and 70% more patients given discharge information.
Researchers are using the UK Kennel Club's extensive breed records to identify genetic variations in diseased and healthy dogs. The study aims to improve nutrition and veterinary drugs for dogs, while also providing insights into human diseases.
A panel of experts judged the relevance of 15 quality indicators, which combined evidence and expert opinion to assess care aspects. The final list included recommendations such as timely initiation of antibiotic therapy and switching to focused antibiotics.
Researchers Hideo Hara and Takeshi Tabira develop an effective oral vaccine treatment for Alzheimer's disease using AAV vector carrying Aß cDNA, which reduces side effects associated with traditional immunotherapy. The treatment has shown promising results in mice, indicating a potential therapeutic approach for the disease.
A team of scientists from Virginia Tech and Nanjing Institute of Geology and Paleontology have discovered uniquely preserved fossils from the Ediacaran Period, dated to 550 million years ago. The discovery sheds new light on the evolution of complex life forms during this period.
Researchers discovered a new way to understand brain cell degeneration in patients with Alzheimer's, Huntington's, and Parkinson's diseases. The study found that small, misshapen proteins embedded in cell membranes can disrupt electrical activity, leading to cellular destruction.
Scientists found that interleukin-12 allows some immune cells to bypass normal regulation and cause damage to the myelin coating in nerve cells, contributing to MS symptoms. The discovery may lead to new treatments for MS by inhibiting IL12 and restoring the function of T-regulatory cells.
The study estimates that nearly two million individuals experienced an eye injury in the US in 2001. Most eye injuries were treated in emergency departments, with male patients having a significantly higher rate of injury compared to females.
Researchers at Temple University have discovered that oxygen groups on single-walled carbon nanotubes enhance their interaction with ammonia, which could lead to the development of small sensors for Homeland Security. The study found that heating and cooling the nanotubes affected their ability to bind with ammonia molecules.
Researchers are developing genetically altered malaria parasites to stimulate immunity against the disease. The goal is to boost the immune system in a similar way to how the altered polio bacteria triggers immunity against polio.
Vinculin and alpha-actinin work together to reinforce the cell skeleton, allowing it to withstand stress during movement and enabling purposeful motion. This discovery could help understand embryonic development and cancer metastasis.
The WEHI team will conduct research on parasite behavior, drug targets, and vaccine development to combat malaria and leishmaniasis. The ultimate goal is to prevent infection or reduce illness severity with effective treatments.
A new study published in the Archives of Neurology found that using Lorenzo's Oil can prevent the onset of X-linked adrenoleukodystrophy (X-ALD) in a majority of young boys. The treatment, which involves daily oral doses of olive oil and rapeseed oil, showed a significant preventive effect in nearly three-fourths of patients.
Researchers at Duke University Medical Center have made a breakthrough in understanding the role of phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI(3)K) in heart failure. They found that preventing PI(3)K's activation could block the loss of heart receptors, potentially improving heart function in patients with heart failure.
Wright State University has received a $3 million grant to establish a new doctoral program focused on learning with disabilities. The program will train students to bridge the gap between disability, assistive technologies, and individualized learning pedagogy.
Researchers found that participants with a thicker ventromedial prefrontal cortex (vmPFC) were less anxious when viewing images associated with discomfort, suggesting a protective factor against anxiety disorders. The study's results may inform the development of exposure-based therapies for anxiety disorders.
Researchers uncover stories from native peoples describing seismic activity, shaking, and flooding, linking them to major earthquakes and tsunamis in the Cascadia subduction zone. Ancient artifacts and geological evidence support these findings, shedding light on the region's seismic history.
A new artificial intelligence-based drying process for wood products could significantly reduce energy costs and improve product quality. The proposed method analyzes the kiln environment to predict optimal conditions and minimize deviations, potentially saving the $250 billion US wood industry millions of dollars.
Scientists have discovered a way to treat Huntington's disease by targeting multiple proteins and genetic pathways simultaneously. This breakthrough has the potential to provide new hope for patients with this devastating neurodegenerative disorder.
A study comparing CABG treatment costs in the US and Canada found that in-hospital costs were substantially higher in the US, with a 82.5% increase compared to Canada. Despite shorter length of stay in the US, the cost difference was primarily due to higher resource prices and labor costs.
Eight Melbourne scientists, including six from WEHI, have been awarded five-year grants to tackle infectious and parasitic diseases like malaria. The $23.3 million international program aims to understand disease mechanisms, identify new drug targets, and develop vaccines.
Researchers have found curcumin to be an effective compound in reducing cell viability and inducing apoptosis in melanoma cell lines. The study reveals that curcumin suppresses specific proteins involved in preventing apoptosis, suggesting its potential as a potent anti-cancer agent.
A study by Mayo Clinic researchers found a rare link between dopamine agonist drugs and pathological gambling in Parkinson's patients. The behavior can be reversed by stopping the medication, but it affects only a small number of patients.
Researchers have identified a group of ribonucleases that play a role in self-incompatibility, a mechanism preventing plants from fertilizing each other. This discovery has the potential to enhance breeding strategies for coffee varieties.
Researchers found mutations in the TACI gene in patients with CVID and IgA deficiency, linked to recurrent infections and low immunoglobulin levels. This discovery may lead to a new test for diagnosis of these immune deficiency syndromes.
Rising temperatures exacerbate cadmium's toxic effects on oysters, reducing their survival chances and increasing metabolic rate. As a result, future research will focus on the thermal tolerance of cold-blooded species affected by cadmium pollution.
Researchers identified a brain circuit for social function and its abnormalities in people with Williams Syndrome, who exhibit increased anxiety despite being highly social. The amygdala's response regulation was found to be critical to social behavior, with abnormal processing leading to fearlessness in social interactions.
Researchers found that the p16 gene inactivates key enzymes JNK 1 and JNK 2, keeping them from activating proteins that promote cell growth. A small protein mimicking p16 has been designed to mimic its action, showing promise for anti-cancer activity.
A study by Rice University/Baylor College of Medicine found that areas with more vascular surgeons have lower amputation rates and more bypass surgery performed. The disease affects 8-12 million people and is a major cause of amputations, especially in diabetics.
Mayo Clinic researchers report a new mechanism behind thiopurine metabolism, a protein deficit caused by misfolded proteins that disrupts enzyme function. The discovery offers promising new directions for predicting genetic changes and altering drug effects.