A USC-developed system module called Social Puppet automates non-verbal expressions of mood and attention in game characters, mirroring human communication. This technology has implications for language learning and cultural understanding, as it helps simulate spontaneous non-verbal cues.
A proven track record in engendering productive partnerships helps ensure each individual can explore laboratory science. The course in genomic sequencing methods for undergraduate biology majors is a prime example of successful partnership-based learning.
A leading sports scientist and a top marathon coach have identified major problems in WADA's practices and procedures, including a lack of scientific evidence and protocol. This flawed system will drive innocent athletes out of sport due to its false premises.
The study uses a Fourier transform ICR mass spectrometer to analyze protein molecules and measure changes in receptor dynamics upon binding. This technique enables highly accurate pictures of tiny amounts of protein molecules, offering a powerful way to probe drug-protein interactions.
A Dartmouth research study confirmed earlier findings that toxic metals like arsenic and lead remain in the top 10 inches of soil after pesticide use. The new study reveals these metals are now part of the fine silt and organic matter, increasing erosion risk to nearby waters.
Researchers at the University of Alberta have developed a guide for doctors to assess height loss and determine if it's related to vertebral fractures or osteoporosis. The guidelines suggest prescribing X-rays for patients who lose six centimeters in height, as this is associated with a 60% chance of vertebral fractures.
Researchers found that acidifying bleach with vinegar significantly improves its ability to kill bacterial spores. The study compared the effectiveness of alkaline and acidified bleach dilutions in disinfecting surfaces contaminated with dried Bacillus anthracis spores, finding that acidified bleach was virtually effective.
A team of scientists found that electric fish can store memories through the activation of ion channels called TRP channels, which remain active for a long time. This discovery could help researchers better understand memory formation and neural disorders like epilepsy in humans.
Researchers are developing nanotechnology approaches for oral health diagnosis and treatment, including precise drug delivery using dendrimers and PEBBLES-probes. These systems aim to increase the effectiveness of anti-cancer drugs and control mineral composition in bone tissue.
A longer-lived population could be a blessing for European countries with low fertility rates, but a curse for others. Anti-aging technologies may exacerbate existing inequalities, particularly in access to healthcare and distribution of resources.
Research by Michigan State University reveals that combustion-derived nanoparticles can cause nasal airway inflammation, rhinitis, and epithelial cell injury. The study's findings suggest that the nose is a potential target organ for nanoparticle toxicity, highlighting the need for better occupational and environmental exposure limits.
The state-and-transition model better explains ecosystem changes, but outdated science can cause serious problems. Scientists need to learn how to spread new knowledge widely through cooperative extension efforts and early adopters.
Researchers have discovered a large number of supermassive black holes, outnumbering initial estimates, using deep X-ray surveys. The findings suggest that these black holes are more stable over time than previously thought.
The ARVO Foundation for Eye Research recognizes six clinicians with innovative vision research projects. Maria Cristina Malloci and others receive grants to support their work on AMD, ocular surface infections and corneal diseases.
Researchers have identified CXCR2 as essential for neutrophil migration into the lungs of mice exposed to lipopolysaccharide (LPS). The presence of CXCR2 on blood vessel wall cells and epithelial cells lining airways facilitates this process.
A $10M grant will support Yale-India environmental ties through collaborative programs in energy, climate change, and sustainable development. The partnership aims to produce decision makers and leaders in India who prioritize environmental conservation and sustainable growth.
Cornell professor Per Pinstrup-Andersen warns that the world is failing to address poverty and hunger, with 1.2 billion people living on $1 a day or less. He advocates for policies promoting economic growth in rural areas to alleviate hunger and poverty.
A population-based case-control study found that women using medium potency estrogen-progestin combination therapy had a higher risk of developing lobular or tubular breast cancer. The risk was more pronounced for those who used the therapy for over five years, with a notable increase in the incidence of tubular and lobular cancers.
Researchers have discovered a new mechanism that regulates the action of K-Ras, a cellular protein that plays an important role in many human cancers. The study found that phosphorylation of K-Ras weakens electrostatic bonds, allowing it to dislodge from the plasma membrane and promote apoptosis.
Millimeter wave therapy has been used in Eastern Europe to alleviate over 50 conditions, including heart disease and cancer. A new Temple University study aims to investigate its effectiveness for pain relief, immune system modulation, and chemotherapy improvement, with the goal of introducing a non-invasive treatment option.
Researchers examine past warming episodes to understand potential future consequences, suggesting a possible link between human-induced global warming and rapid climate changes. Ancient greenhouse gas emissions may hold clues to mitigating the effects of climate change.
Current support systems for men with breast cancer are rudimentary, highlighting the need for national protocols that provide information and emotional support. Risk factors include occupational exposure to high temperatures, genetic abnormalities, and excess alcohol, which increase the risk of the disease.
A study by researchers at The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia found that genetic predisposition may raise the risk of rare disabling syndrome caused by chromosome rearrangements. Translocations between chromosomes 11 and 22 were found to occur more frequently in healthy individuals than previously thought.
A new influenza vaccine using a purified protein from the virus's surface has been developed, showing safety and immunity equal to traditional egg-based vaccines. The vaccine is expected to be produced within 4 weeks and at a cost comparable to traditional methods, providing a significant advantage in fighting potential pandemics.
Scientists have sequenced the complete genomes of three emerging pathogens causing ehrlichiosis, a disease affecting humans, dogs, cattle, sheep, and other animals. The study identified new genes allowing bacteria to evade immune systems and adapt to new niches.
Recent increases in glacier speed on Greenland are responsible for more than two-thirds of the country's contribution to sea level rise. The southern half of Greenland is reacting to climate warming, while the northern half may follow suit, potentially increasing global sea levels.
Research finds comprehensive schooling neither benefits nor hinders social mobility, with changes in jobs and employment structures playing a key role. Inequality trends are slowing, but policies like redistributive social democracy can reduce inequalities of mobility.
Researchers discovered significant variations in enzyme expression between adults and children, impacting drug treatment effectiveness. Enzyme levels change dramatically during early life stages, affecting individual susceptibility to drug reactions.
The US healthcare system faces significant challenges, with high costs and a growing number of uninsured individuals. Bush's proposed initiatives are unlikely to address these issues, as electronic records may not significantly reduce health costs and HSAs could exacerbate the problem.
Researchers found that adding neurotrophins to human embryonic stem cells increases cell survival by 36-fold. This discovery could enable mass production of stem cells for disease treatment and prevent tumor formation.
Researchers at MIT have developed a new type of lithium battery that can charge and discharge in about 10 minutes, making it closer to the timeframe needed for hybrid car batteries. The new material is more stable and safer than existing lithium cobalt oxide batteries, which are used in small devices.
Researchers at Georgia Institute of Technology have developed an algorithm that creates accurate three-dimensional models of over 900 GPCRs, a class of proteins targeted by many drugs. These models could help scientists discover new drug compounds more efficiently, and are now freely available to noncommercial users.
A recent survey of 11,600 students in India found that sixth-grade students are using tobacco at a rate two to four times that of their eighth-grade peers. This trend suggests an initial wave of increased tobacco use among Indian youth, which warrants early intervention. The proportion of all deaths attributed to tobacco is expected to...
A study published in Journal of Clinical Nursing found that 96% of burns accidents among children under six could have been prevented at home. The majority of injuries were scalds caused by hot liquids and food, and most victims were under three years old.
A new UCLA study published in Science suggests that a farnesyltransferase inhibitor (FTI) may be useful in treating progeria, a genetic disease causing accelerated aging in children. The majority of FTI-treated mice showed improvements in body weight, bone integrity, grip strength, and survival compared to untreated control mice.
A study led by Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center aims to determine the risk level for birth defects and other adverse outcomes in children of cancer survivors. Researchers analyze data from Denmark and Finland, where extensive patient information is available, to quantify risks based on chemotherapy and radiation exposure.
A Dartmouth study reveals that the brain's parietal cortex plays a crucial role in understanding the goals of other people's actions. This finding has implications for our understanding of human social interactions and may help explain impaired social behaviors in individuals with autism.
The study found that training increases neural activation in areas associated with executive control, countering the idea that opposite brain areas compensate for cognitive decline in aging. Older adults who received training showed increased activity in brain regions tied to scheduling and planning, similar to younger participants.
Scientists at Johns Hopkins Medicine have created a detailed map of the lateral wall of the subventricle zone, suggesting the potential existence of human brain stem cells. The discovery also reveals displaced ependymal cells that may be related to cancer or neurodegenerative diseases.
A Cornell University expert argues that science and technology can be applied to reduce worldwide poverty and hunger. The new research priorities established by CGIAR's Science Council aim to improve agriculture, technology, and food-policy initiatives to stimulate economic growth in sub-Saharan Africa and western Asia.
Researchers at Cornell University have developed nano-keys that interact with receptors on cell membranes, triggering larger-scale responses within cells. By understanding the role of cell membranes in activating responses, scientists may develop new drug therapies for allergies, high cholesterol, and viral infections.
A nationwide study published in Environmental Health Perspectives found that even very low levels of ozone increase the risk of premature death. The study suggests that further reductions in ozone pollution would benefit public health, even in areas that meet current regulatory standards.
The Global Youth Tobacco Survey found nearly 9% of students aged 13-15 were current smokers, with high exposure to secondhand smoke and non-cigarette tobacco use among young girls. Reduction efforts require preventing initiation and promoting cessation, with strong smoke-free policies necessary to combat the growing toll of tobacco use.
Scientists warn of a similar climate shift as the Paleocene-Eocene Thermal Maximum, which occurred 55 million years ago. The rate of carbon dioxide emission is now faster than natural processes can absorb, potentially triggering abrupt changes.
Researchers at the University of Pennsylvania School Medicine have created a three-dimensional neural network that can be transplanted to bridge spinal cord lesions. The construct, designed to mimic the longitudinal arrangement of the spinal cord, integrates with host tissue and maintains its geometry after transplantation.
Researchers explore how science can help understand and alleviate poverty, with a focus on biophysical parameters and energy services. They find strong correlations between disaster vulnerability, soil fertility, drought frequency, and malaria exposure, highlighting the need for tailored solutions.
Researchers are using advanced techniques to analyze ancient proteins in fossils, providing insights into prehistoric life, diet, and relationships. By studying these molecular remnants, scientists can reconstruct the history of life on Earth and gain a deeper understanding of dinosaurs.
Researchers at Canadian Institutes of Health Research find that bone marrow-derived microglia can efficiently destroy amyloid plaques, the hallmark of Alzheimer's disease. The discovery provides new hope for patients by highlighting a potential therapeutic approach to curbing plaque development and prolonging autonomy.
A study by the University of Cincinnati found that a combination of a new medication and ultrasound treatment can reopen blocked brain arteries in nearly 70% of patients. This is an improvement over previous studies, which achieved partial or complete reopening in around 55% of patients.
Researchers found that Rad9 plays a crucial role in repairing DNA damage and protecting chromosome ends. Inactivating Rad9 in tumor cells could enhance the power of radiation treatments by making it easier for radiation to inflict fatal damage on cancerous genetic material.
Research finds large amounts of nitrogen oxides (NOx) transported to North America from the Pacific Ocean in May contribute to significant increases in ozone levels over the region. The discovery will help build better models to understand how pollutants affect other regions, with potential implications for air quality and human health.
Researchers found that traditional gender roles and expectations can prevent men from being responsive to their children's emotional needs, leading to a new model of fatherhood. The study suggests that valuing women's work and promoting equality in relationships can improve paternal responsivity.
Research using Daphnia pulex reveals that sexual reproduction efficiently removes deleterious gene mutations, suggesting it is a key mechanism for maintaining population health. Asexual species, in contrast, accumulate bad mutations at an increased rate, supporting the idea that sex plays a crucial role in purifying genomes.
Scientists have identified a second molecular pathway that enables cells to adapt to low-oxygen environments, reducing protein synthesis to conserve energy. This finding sheds light on the physiology of cancer and cardiovascular disease, where oxygen levels are often abnormally low.
A study published in the Journal of Clinical Investigation reveals that expression of CXCR2 on blood vessel wall cells mediates neutrophil influx into the lung during acute bacterial infection. Additionally, researchers found that FoxO1 plays a critical role in regulating beta cell numbers during insulin resistance and inhibiting acety...
A University of Houston graduate student has developed a new type of memory storage device using solid state physics, promising faster access to data, music, and movies in hand-held devices. The invention utilizes magneto-electric effects in multiferroic compounds to read and write information.
Researchers at EMBL and IVMS have obtained a detailed structural picture of the ZEBRA protein, which plays a key role in activating the EBV. The study reveals a potential weak point that could be targeted by antiviral drugs to block the virus's activation.
Researchers have discovered new biodiversity hotspots in underground environments, home to unique and diverse species of terrestrial cave fauna. These discoveries shed light on the vast and largely unexplored world of subterranean ecosystems.
Researchers at JILA use a novel laser technique to study semiconductor materials, revealing correlated oscillations that can aid in predicting emission frequencies. The approach, developed for probing molecular structure, offers new insights into electronic properties of semiconductors.
Researchers have developed a method to rapidly diagnose bioterrorism-related diseases by analyzing gene patterns in white blood cells. This technology, which uses mathematical modeling tools, can identify specific changes in gene expression within 2 hours of exposure, allowing for early diagnosis and treatment.