Researchers at Columbia University Medical Center have discovered a protein switch that activates chronic pain. The switch is an enzyme called protein kinase G (PKG), which sets off processes generating pain messages when activated. Turning PKG off relieves pain, making it a potential target for therapy.
Biodiversity experts warn of a major crisis and urge creation of an inter-governmental mechanism to provide a united, authoritative scientific voice. Existing organizations lack the structural means to mobilize the expertise of a large scientific community, spanning multiple disciplines.
Researchers from University of California, Irvine, found that transplanted human embryonic stem cells do not cause harm and can be used to treat acute spinal cord injuries. The study confirmed previous findings that replacing a cell type lost after injury improves outcomes in rodents.
Researchers at Mayo Clinic have identified a gene mutation causing chaotic electrical activation of the heart muscle and atrial fibrillation. The study found that a specific genetic mutation in the KCNA5 gene leads to susceptibility for atrial fibrillation, providing new insight into its mechanism.
Researchers found that a normal gene involved in mammary gland function helps trigger a lethal type of leukemia when mutated. The discovery suggests that drugs targeting this mutation may have fewer serious side effects in leukemia patients.
Researchers have made a breakthrough in understanding how serotonin regulates appetite, finding that it activates certain neurons and blocks others to curb hunger. The dual effect could lead to the development of safer anti-obesity drugs with fewer harmful side effects.
A new study finds that diabetes disease-management programs lead to higher rates of recommended examinations, such as eye and foot exams, and cholesterol checks. However, these strategies had no impact on controlling key factors associated with diabetes complications, like blood pressure, cholesterol, or blood sugar levels.
Researchers at Northwestern University have developed a process to create graphene-based composite materials with exceptional properties. The method involves exfoliating graphite into individual layers, which can be mixed into polymers, glasses, and ceramics.
Research shows a survival rate of 84% in third year follow-up, greatly reduced infections and lymphoma-like disorders, with improved quality of life for children after transplantation.
A new study found that neurosurgical treatment of severe anxiety disorders can be effective in relieving symptoms, but also carries a significant risk of side-effects such as apathy and epilepsy. The study monitored 51 patients for up to 23 years after undergoing capsulotomy, a procedure that involves severing nerve fibers in the brain.
The number of women in leadership roles in research studies has increased fivefold since 1970, but they remain underrepresented among medical science investigators. Women are entering the medical profession at the same rate as men, yet few studies and editorials are authored by them.
Researchers discovered that breast stem cells lack receptors for female hormones oestrogen and progesterone, resembling the aggressive 'basal' subtype of breast cancer. The findings support speculation that breast stem cells may give rise to basal tumours, which are more common in BRCA1 carriers.
A study of children and young adults treated with doxorubicin for bone tumors found progressive worsening of heart damage, with nearly half showing diastolic dysfunction. Regular echocardiography is recommended to monitor heart function and prevent further deterioration.
Researchers at the University of Cincinnati are testing a 12-week prevention program to combat childhood obesity in Meade County, Ky. The program focuses on promoting regular physical activity, healthy eating habits, and parent-child communication to reduce obesity rates.
Queen's University researchers found that two genes cooperate to protect aortic smooth muscle cells from death, pointing to new therapies for preventing heart attacks and strokes. The study's findings suggest that delivering the HO-1 gene using gene therapy may help stabilize plaques and prevent clogging in arteries.
A recent study conducted by Dr. Scott Sheridan at Kent State University found that almost 90% of residents aware of heat warnings took no action to avoid health issues. The study suggests that heat warning systems may need to be revised to better target vulnerable populations.
Study reveals rats' hearts can withstand severe hypothermia with minimal oxygen loss, highlighting the importance of continued CPR efforts. However, prolonged exposure leads to fatal heart failure upon rewarming, suggesting improved cardiac output as a key factor in survival.
Golse and Saint-Raymond received the prize for their paper connecting weak solutions of the Boltzmann equation to Leray solutions of the incompressible Navier-Stokes equation. Their research focuses on mathematical physics problems, including kinetic equations and fluid dynamics.
A computer card game called FreeCell has been adapted to detect early signs of dementia by assessing players' planning and efficiency. Researchers found that the game can distinguish between cognitively healthy elders and those with mild cognitive impairment, suggesting potential for early treatment strategies.
This year, SIAM awarded outstanding paper prizes to researchers who explored new areas of applied mathematics and offered fresh perspectives on existing fields. The award winners include Girish N. Nair and Robin J. Evans, Jean-Michel Coron and Emmanuel Trélat, and Michael Hintermüller and Karl Kunisch.
A hormone called BNP detects pulmonary hypertension in sickle cell disease patients and predicts mortality. High BNP levels correlate with greater pressure in pulmonary arteries and increased risk of death.
Researchers have developed a non-invasive method to detect bladder cancer using DNA found in urine, while a study suggests high pesticide exposure increases the risk of liver cancer. Additionally, a growth factor has been found to inhibit lung tumor metastasis by stopping blood vessel growth and breaking down specific proteins.
A software tool developed by Iowa State University and Ames Laboratory researchers has won the R&D 100 Award for its ability to quickly convert large 3D data sets into intuitive pictures. The tool enables engineers to analyze and work with data more efficiently, leading to improved design and operational efficiency.
A recent study reveals that children with chronic skin diseases like eczema and psoriasis experience impaired quality of life comparable to those with kidney disease. This is largely due to social stigma, teasing, and bullying, which can lead to emotional distress and poor self-esteem.
A new study found a correlation between childhood socioeconomic status and adult pessimism, with high SES individuals exhibiting more optimism. Children from low SES backgrounds who experience upward mobility may not develop adaptive coping strategies, limiting their ability to benefit from later success.
The Cluster mission has successfully identified a magnetic null point in space, revealing an unexpected vortex structure about 500 km across. This discovery provides scientists with their first look at the heart of the reconnection process, which drives powerful phenomena such as solar flares and black hole jets.
Researchers studied participants under the influence of midazolam and a saline placebo to understand memory formation. They found that recollection was impaired by midazolam, while familiarity remained unaffected.
A UCF study found that coral tissue damage cannot heal near pollution sources on land, leading to reef decline and increased hurricane risks. The loss of coral harms natural ecosystems and the tourism economy, while also protecting coastal areas from storms.
Frank Xu, Assistant Professor at Stevens Institute of Technology, has been awarded $300,000 by the US Department of Energy for his research on developing multi-scale stochastic numerical methods. The award will support Xu and a Ph.D. candidate for three years.
The Society for Industrial and Applied Mathematics awarded the George Polya Prize to Gregory F. Lawler, Oded Schramm and Wendelin Werner for their groundbreaking work on stochastic Loewner evolution (SLE). Their research established the existence and conformal invariance of critical scaling limits of several 2D lattice models.
UCLA's Xinwei Yu received the DiPrima prize for his dissertation on 3D incompressible Euler flows and related equations, demonstrating new necessary conditions for blowup of solutions. The prize recognizes Yu's outstanding research in applied mathematics and acknowledges his work as a young scientist.
The Mapping the Future map shows significant population growth in developing countries and increases in coastal populations exposed to sea level rise. Meanwhile, parts of Eastern Europe, Asia, and Japan are expected to experience widespread population decline.
A UW-Madison team has developed a new process to create thin-film semiconductors on flexible materials, enabling the creation of powerful, low-power electronic devices. The technique can be used to make wearable electronics, computer monitors that roll up like a window shade, and other applications for non-computer uses.
A University of Houston team, with a NIH grant, is creating a quick, accurate test for the 'Cruise Ship Virus' using retroreflectors and antibody proteins. The tool has the potential to diagnose diseases like Norwalk more easily and may be applied to other infectious diseases.
A recent study published in Science found a direct link between tropical tree species diversity and the diversity of leaf-eating insects. The research team compared insect feeding habits in temperate and tropical forests, concluding that higher tree diversity supports more insect species.
New research from Karolinska Institutet reveals the role of substances like cytokines and leukotriene B4 in inflammation and arteriosclerosis. The study identifies three enzymes that contribute to the formation of LTB4, a powerful chemotactic substance that reinforces inflammation.
A meta-analysis of 59 trials found little evidence that diet affects cancer survival or prognosis, while a study on garlic and vitamin supplements showed no benefit in reducing precancerous gastric lesions to cancer. Long-term use of vitamins and garlic supplements had no effect on gastric cancer incidence.
Researchers at Case Western Reserve University have found a protein associated with brain cell death in Alzheimer's disease. The study suggests that the multi-domain protein Vav plays a critical role in triggering a cascade of reactions leading to oxidative damage and neural cell death, a key characteristic of Alzheimer's.
A new study published in Brain and Language confirmed that men and women use distinct brain areas when processing language and visuospatial information. Females showed more bilateral activation in the inferior frontal gyrus for language tasks, while males demonstrated more bilateral activation in the parietal lobe for visuospatial tasks.
Combination anti-retroviral therapies have significantly reduced the incidence of opportunistic infections in HIV-infected children, including bacterial pneumonia, herpes zoster, and tuberculosis. The study found a substantial decrease in infection rates compared to the pre-HAART era.
Researchers have identified operating principles to probe molecular recognition events with luminescence measurements using quantum dots. This method has the potential to signal specific disease markers in biological samples, replacing conventional organic dyes in imaging and sensing applications.
Carnegie Mellon University's Irene Fonseca is a renowned mathematician who has made significant contributions to applied and computational mathematics. She has initiated programs to attract young researchers and serves on several major institute boards, inspiring the women's mathematics community.
The University of Colorado at Boulder and Harvard University students won the 2006 SIAM Award for outstanding solutions to the Mathematical Contest in Modeling. Their winning team was recognized for their innovative approach to solving problems in irrigation and wheelchair access.
Dr. Éva Tardos received the George B. Dantzig Prize for her groundbreaking work on network-flow algorithms, approximation algorithms, and combinatorial auctions. Her research focuses on efficient methods for solving optimization problems in graphs and networks.
A new study by Northwestern Memorial Hospital reveals digital mammography reduces technologists' acquisition time by 35% and increases physician interpretation time by 57%, sparking discussions on balancing financial goals with patient care.
Researchers found that nicotine exposure in rat fetuses led to impaired auditory processing and cognitive deficits. The study suggests that prenatal nicotine exposure damages brain receptors, affecting sound sensitivity and higher cognitive functions.
New research suggests that tiny airborne particles, known as aerosols, have a significant impact on cloud formation and can lead to both cooling and warming effects. The study found that aerosol concentration is linked to cloud cover in all locations and seasons, challenging the idea that meteorological factors are the main influence.
Researchers found that inhibiting the enzyme activity of HO-1, a protein thought to be protective, actually reduces kidney injury in sickle cell disease. A new compound, tin protoporphyrin, blocks HO-1 activity and protects SCD kidneys from damage.
The recipients of the 2006 Lagrange Prize are recognized for their groundbreaking papers on nonlinear programming without a penalty function and global convergence of a filter-SQP algorithm. These works introduced the filter idea, which has led to the development of effective nonlinear optimization codes.
Dr. Peter D. Lax received the 2006 Distinguished Service to Applied Mathematics prize for his outstanding leadership and contributions to applied mathematics. He is recognized for his services to the mathematical community, including government service and advisory roles in high-performance computing.
The Society for Industrial and Applied Mathematics (SIAM) awards student paper prizes to recognize outstanding scholarship in applied mathematics. This year's winners include Laurent Demanet, Emanuele Viola, and Hongchao Zhang from California Institute of Technology, Harvard University, and University of Florida respectively.
Scientists have uncovered the complete genome sequence of Ostreococcus tauri, a tiny eukaryote that plays a significant role in ocean climate dynamics. The study reveals the organism's complex genetic makeup and its ability to perform photosynthesis, which has major implications for carbon cycling.
Women aged 45 years or older with migraines and aura have a higher risk of heart attack, stroke, angina, and death due to ischemic cardiovascular disease. In contrast, migraine without aura was not associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular events.
Researchers found that men with chronic coronary syndrome are more likely to experience erectile dysfunction, with an average time frame of two years between ED symptoms and angina. The study suggests that patients with ED and multiple risk factors should be monitored for heart disease.
Dr. Peter Kloeden received the 2006 prize for his fundamental contributions to the theoretical and computational analysis of differential equations. He made significant advancements in random attractors and the preservation of synchronization in the presence of noise.
Researchers from the UC Davis M.I.N.D. Institute have found significantly fewer neurons in the amygdala of males with autism, a key brain region responsible for emotional responses and social learning. The study provides new insights into the neuroanatomical basis of autism, which may help advance research into this lifelong neurodevel...
Dr. Michael J. Shelley received the SIAM's Julian Cole Lectureship for his work on mathematical modeling and scientific computation in fluid dynamics and other fields. His research focuses on flow-body interactions, complex fluids, and visual perception using modeling and simulation.
Ecologist and Princeton Professor Simon Levin emphasizes the importance of self-organization in ecosystems and the interface between ecology and economics. His lecture at SIAM Annual Meeting explores mathematical approaches to uniting ecology and socioeconomics for a sustainable future.
Researchers at Thomas Jefferson University found that blocking Rho kinase activity could be a viable treatment for gastrointestinal disorders such as constipation, anal fissures, and hemorrhoids. The study showed that Rho kinase inhibitors can cause direct smooth muscle relaxation and may provide a new strategy to treat these conditions.
A new study finds that the stalk of Caulobacter crescentus bacteria acts as an antenna to amplify nutrient uptake, increasing efficiency without increasing volume or surface area. This discovery has significant implications for bioremediation and drug production.