A new mathematical model developed by USC College computational biologist Peter Calabrese simulates the evolution of genetic recombination hotspots in the human genome. The model reveals that hotspots are not as fixed as previously thought, but rather vary across populations and can be found in multiple ethnic groups.
The black-white life expectancy gap has narrowed from 1983 to 2003, primarily due to improvements in mortality rates for homicide, HIV disease, and heart disease. However, the current difference remains substantial, with blacks experiencing a 6.3-year gap over whites.
Researchers at Yale University developed a new procedure to estimate individual embryo reproductive potential, potentially reducing multiple births. The method uses proton NMR spectroscopy to analyze metabolic profiles of embryos, correlating with pregnancy outcomes.
A study found that warming temperatures since 1981 have caused annual losses of roughly $5 billion for major cereal crops. Global crop yields respond negatively to warmer temperatures, with a 3-5% drop in yield for each 1 degree Fahrenheit increase.
A new study by Carnegie Institution and Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory reveals that global warming has already affected global food supply, with average yield drops of 3-5% for every 1 degree F increase in temperature. The study estimates annual losses of $5 billion for major food crops.
Chan will develop new simulation theories to create fast models that predict real-time results, using mathematical programming techniques. He plans to involve graduate and undergraduate students in his research, creating hands-on experience and educational software for high school students.
Virginia Tech researcher Yong Xu seeks to create an optical microscope that can image nanostructures at one nanometer resolution, a breakthrough in arranging atoms on the molecular scale. Observing the vacuum field at this resolution could help solve quantum electrodynamics' remaining mysteries.
A new nanoscale apparatus developed at JILA measures the wiggling of a tiny gold beam using electrons, enabling faster scanning tunneling microscopes. The device offers a potential 500-fold increase in speed and can measure atomic vibrations in high definition.
A new study reveals racial disparities in male breast cancer survival rates, with African-American men facing a higher risk of death. The research analyzed data from over 510 men diagnosed with stage I-III breast cancer and found five-year survival rates of 66% among African-American men versus 90% among white men.
NIST has created a new Standard Reference Material (SRM) to help diagnose chronic kidney disease more accurately. The SRM consists of frozen human blood serum with two different concentrations of creatinine, which is a metabolic by-product of muscles.
Dr. Kenneth Lyons Jones, a pioneering researcher, has received the 2007 March of Dimes/Colonel Harland Sanders Award for his groundbreaking work on dysmorphology and fetal alcohol syndrome. His research has focused on identifying mechanisms of normal and abnormal fetal development.
The California Institute for Regenerative Medicine has awarded $6 million in comprehensive grants to the Burnham Institute for Medical Research to support long-range stem cell studies aimed at developing new treatments for heart disease and brain repair. The funds will enable researchers to develop a supply of nerve cells for brain rep...
A University of Alberta study reveals that older adults feel less confident about their computer knowledge due to memory issues and health problems. The research highlights the importance of adapting computer technology to accommodate vision, hearing, and motor skills impairments.
Three UCI projects focus on mitochondria, spinal cord injuries and genetic manipulation of human embryonic stem cells. Researchers aim to develop therapies and treatments for degenerative diseases and cancers.
The American Physiological Society awarded $47,000 travel fellowships to 38 underrepresented minority students and scientists for the 2007 Experimental Biology conference. The program aims to encourage more students from diverse groups to pursue careers in science.
A new study has developed an antimicrobial approach using gallium to defeat drug-resistant bacteria. The researchers interfered with a key bacterial nutrient, killing microbes in laboratory experiments and eliminating life-threatening infections in mice.
Researchers at Yale University have discovered four genetic variants associated with spontaneous preterm birth in Hispanic women. The study found that mothers carrying these polymorphisms were significantly more likely to experience preterm birth. Notably, the ENPP1 variant was linked to the highest risk of preterm birth.
A new study has identified hospital bed placement, staff working with symptoms of SARS, and oxygen therapy as significant risk factors for the spread of respiratory infections in hospitals. The findings have implications for controlling other respiratory disease threats, including pandemic influenza.
A lack of resources and political leadership are major contributors to the slow progress toward meeting the UN's sanitation target. Improving water quality is not enough without proper sanitation facilities, which can have a significant impact on household health and education.
A team at the University of Cincinnati discovered a new way to combat antibiotic-resistant bacteria by substituting gallium for iron, preventing bacterial growth and biofilm formation. This method shows promise in treating lung infections, particularly in cystic fibrosis patients.
Richard Bond, a renowned cosmologist at the University of Toronto, has won the Gerhard Herzberg Canada Gold Medal for Science and Engineering. His research has provided crucial insights into the universe's current structure, shedding light on dark matter and its role in shaping the cosmos.
A blood pressure drug has shown potential as a new treatment for lung cancer, shrinking tumor volume by 30% in mice. The hormone angiotensin-(1-7) was found to reduce cyclooxygenase-2, an enzyme that regulates cell growth, and may provide a novel approach to treating the deadly disease.
Two new interferon-gamma blood test assays detected latent tuberculosis infection in supermarket customers who had been exposed to a contagious employee, but traditional tuberculin skin tests did not. The blood tests showed a better correlation with exposure than TSTs.
A study published in The Lancet found that chest-compression-only resuscitation boosts survival rates for out-of-hospital cardiac arrest. The study analyzed 4,068 cases of witnessed collapse and found a 19.4% favorable neurological survival rate when bystanders administered chest compressions without mouth-to-mouth ventilations.
Researchers at the University of Washington discovered that Gallium inhibits the growth of Pseudomonas aeruginosa and prevents biofilm formation, offering a potential therapeutic solution for cystic fibrosis patients. Inhalation of Gallium also protected mice from P. aeruginosa lung infections.
Complex health decisions rely on estimates of disease burden from various sources, many of which are marketed by skilled advocates. To inform decision-making, it's essential to assess and interpret these statistics critically.
A clinical trial found that daily zinc supplements reduced the risk of death among children aged 12-48 months by 18%. However, no significant reduction was observed in mortality among children under 1 year old. The study suggests benefits for zinc supplementation beyond just reducing pneumonia, diarrhea, and malaria cases.
Scientists have discovered that an attenuated form of poliovirus can effectively destroy neuroblastoma tumors in mice without harming them. The study's findings suggest that this approach could represent a new, safe means of treating childhood cancer and potentially other cancers in adults.
Researchers at the University of Helsinki have discovered a new effective treatment modality for KSHV-infected lymphomas by reactivating the p53 pathway. The study shows that Nutlin-3a, a small-molecule inhibitor, selectively induces massive apoptosis in PEL cells.
Only 20% of children with persistent asthma have optimal control, according to a survey-based study published in Ambulatory Pediatrics. The study found that 43% of children receiving medications still experienced poor symptom control, highlighting the need for improved education and trigger avoidance strategies.
The Medical Training Application Service (MTAS) has been plagued by problems, including computer failures and inadequate reflection of practical experience. The Modernising Medical Careers (MMC) curriculum is also failing, with concerns over the new fast-track production system producing inadequately experienced consultants. The Lancet...
Researchers analyzed DNA data from mammal and bird species in the Americas to find speciation occurs faster in temperate zones than tropics. This is due to a higher turnover of species in temperate areas, resulting in more new species emerging.
A new fiber-based light source promises to improve the inspection of food, produce, paper, currency, recyclables and other products by providing a bright, rectangular beam of light. This design enables line-scan cameras to sort products at higher speeds with improved accuracy.
A new study reveals that Muslim schools in Britain could be an effective way to integrate religious minorities into British citizenship. The seven state-funded Muslim schools have exceptionally high academic achievement records and offer a curriculum that promotes universal dignity and worth.
A study of over 34,000 women found that consuming apples was associated with reduced risk of mortality from cardiovascular disease and coronary heart disease. Flavonoids in apples were found to be linked with the reduction of bad cholesterol, a major contributor to cardiovascular disease.
Researchers discovered Nutlin-3a induces apoptosis in human PEL cell lines by disrupting LANA-p53 interaction, causing substantial tumor regression in mice with established PEL. This reactivation of the p53 pathway may provide a viable therapeutic option for individuals with KSHV-induced lymphomas.
The Damon Runyon-Rachleff Innovation Award provides seed funding for junior scientists with high-risk, high-reward ideas in cancer research. The program aims to apply a venture capital philosophy to scientific research, investing in fresh perspectives and innovative approaches.
Researchers argue that calculating a global temperature is mathematically impossible due to the complexity of the Earth's climate system. The concept relies on averaging multiple temperatures from different locations, which can lead to misleading conclusions about climate trends.
A new NASA study finds that Earth's 'sunscreen' of aerosols has declined since the early 1990s, which could have given a boost to global warming. The finding sheds light on recent climate change trends and may lead to improved understanding of the forces at work.
The Mars Express radar instrument has mapped the thickness of dusty ice deposits at Mars' south pole, estimating a liquid layer about 11 meters deep. The findings suggest that polar layered deposits contain most of the known water on modern Mars.
The Wilson Center and Pew Charitable Trusts are expanding their efforts to examine the risks and benefits of nanotechnology. The Project on Emerging Nanotechnologies will provide objective, in-depth analysis and policy recommendations to manage environmental, health, and social impacts.
A study published in The Lancet found that cardiac-only resuscitation (chest compressions only) yields better outcomes than conventional CPR, especially for patients with apnea or shockable cardiac rhythms. This approach may increase bystander-initiated resuscitation efforts and improve survival rates.
The Integrated Microbial Genomes (IMG) data management system has been updated with new microbial genomes from NCBI's RefSeq collection, model eukaryotic genomes, and plasmids. This update brings a total of 2,782 genomes to the system, including 481 new public microbial genomes.
The US Nuclear Regulatory Commission has awarded its first-ever early site permit for a new nuclear power reactor, marking a significant step in the country's nuclear renaissance. PNNL researchers are assisting NRC with environmental and safety reviews, and document preparation.
A study by researchers at New York University's Departments of Psychology found that the neural process for acquiring fears through social observation is similar to that of direct experience. The brain's amygdala plays a critical role in both processes, indicating that observing others' emotional states can evoke empathic responses and...
Research suggests that obstructive sleep apnea patients with moderate to severe disease are at higher risk for stroke due to silent brain infarction lesions. The use of continuous positive airway pressure therapy has been shown to lower markers of platelet activation and reduce the incidence of subsequent ischemic brain lesions.
Scientists have built an artificial version of the enzyme cytochrome c oxidase (CcO), which is crucial for generating energy in the body. The new model has shed light on the causes of cancer and may lead to breakthroughs in alternative energy production.
A study found that tiny spontaneous gene mutations are 10 times more prevalent in sporadic cases of autism spectrum disorders than in healthy control subjects. The researchers propose that these anomalies are primary causes of the disorder in most cases when present, and may contribute to disease equally across the sexes.
Researchers found a potential biomarker for preeclampsia in elevated autoantibodies, associated with increased cardiovascular risk. The study suggests these autoantibodies may also be related to high blood pressure and inflammation.
A new study from the University of Missouri-Columbia found that men with higher levels of traditional masculinity tend to display greater improvement in their recovery from serious injuries. The study suggests that this strength and resilience may encourage men to seek help and recover more quickly.
Recent advances in bipolar II disorder and related disorders highlight the need for further research due to changes in diagnostic criteria and mixed profiles. Treatment options, such as mood stabilisers, are recommended for mixed depression, but controlled pharmacological studies are lacking.
A study at Ohio State University found that losing one copy of the Wwox gene greatly increases lung cancer risk in mice. Even with one working copy, they developed five times more lung tumors than those with two copies.
Researchers from the University of Washington developed a new antibacterial strategy using Gallium, which inhibits the growth of Pseudomonas aeruginosa and prevents biofilm formation. Additionally, studies suggest that Nutlin-3a may reactivate the p53 pathway to treat Kaposi's sarcoma virus-induced lymphomas. Another study found that a...
Scientists identified four Antarctic glaciers posing a threat to future sea levels, with East and West Antarctica's glaciers retreating in unison. A 0.35mm/year sea level rise due to the two ice sheets is about 12% of the current global trend.
Researchers at UNC School of Medicine have discovered a cellular mechanism that regulates DNA replication after exposure to UV radiation, potentially offering new protection against skin cancer. The study identified two proteins, Timeless and Tipin, which form a complex to slow down DNA replication in response to damage.
A new study reveals that diabetes causes erectile dysfunction by affecting the brain's nitric oxide mechanisms. The researchers found that restoring nitric oxide production in the brain can alleviate erectile dysfunction in diabetic rats.
A new study found that routine colonoscopic surveillance improves survival for colorectal cancer patients. Patients who underwent regular follow-up colonoscopies had better five-year survival rates compared to those who did not receive screenings.
A new University of Colorado at Boulder study suggests that the Arctic sea ice decline may have reached a tipping point, triggering a cascade of climate change affecting Earth's temperate regions. The loss of ice could lead to changes in atmospheric patterns, impacting weather and agriculture globally.
Researchers at UC Santa Cruz determine the 3D structure of an RNA enzyme, or ribozyme, that carries out a fundamental reaction required to make new RNA molecules. The discovery provides insight into what may have been the first self-replicating molecule to arise billions of years ago.
A small clinical trial of escitalopram, an antidepressant medication, found no conclusive benefit in treating kleptomania. However, the results suggest that some medications may still be effective for certain patients.