A study of 110,599 women found that long-term strenuous physical activity reduced the risk of invasive and in situ breast cancer by 20% and 31%, respectively. Moderate physical activity did not show a significant impact on breast cancer risk.
Researchers at Emory Health Sciences are developing pig islets as an alternative to human islets for transplant into patients with Type 1 diabetes. Successful development of porcine islet transplants could begin clinical trials within the next three years.
Carnegie Mellon researchers identify improved control of livestock feed, efficient nitrogen use, and low-emission fertilizers as effective strategies for reducing ammonia emissions. These measures can save $8,000 per ton in winter, making them a cheaper alternative to controlling sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxide pollution.
A recent survey in Peru found that men who have had anal sex without a condom in an internet café were more likely to meet their partners online. This raises concerns about the use of internet cafés as a venue for unsafe sex and potential HIV transmission.
A unique 'barometer' gauges the ethics of research abroad by rating its compliance with laws and regulations in one's home country. Research deemed too risky or unethical, such as developing chemical weapons, falls into the red zone.
A study found that pharmaceutical industry-sponsored breast cancer trials are more likely to report positive results than non-sponsored studies. These trials also tend to use single-arm designs, targeting patients with advanced disease, which may not answer questions about optimal treatment outcomes.
A six-month study found that three forms of garlic, including raw and commercial supplements, did not significantly reduce low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol in adults. The results suggest that garlic may have other beneficial health effects, but its ability to lower LDL cholesterol is uncertain.
Scientists at UCL and Mainz University found that the gene controlling milk digestion was missing from Neolithic skeletons. However, through exposure to milk, lactose tolerance evolved extremely rapidly in European populations. Today, over ninety percent of northern Europeans can digest milk.
A study using functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging identified the neural networks involved in processing reward-related functions modulated by female gonadal steroid hormones. The research found that women exhibit increased reactivity in regions dealing with emotions, such as the amygdalo-hippocampal region, during the follicular phase.
The Sloan Foundation has honored three young scientists at Yale with two-year Research Fellowships for their outstanding contributions to physics, computer science, and neuroscience. The fellows will receive $45,000 awards to pursue their research interests without restrictions.
Two large studies found a significant association between common pain-relieving medications and an increased risk of hypertension (high blood pressure) in men. Men who regularly took acetaminophen, ibuprofen, or aspirin were more likely to develop high blood pressure over four years.
Researchers at the University of Missouri-Columbia have found that a plant extract can be used to stabilize gold nanoparticles, making them nontoxic and stable enough for injection or oral administration. This breakthrough has the potential to revolutionize cancer detection and treatment using nanomedicine.
Researchers found that those with three or more cancer biomarkers who used aspirin had a 30% risk of esophageal cancer after 10 years, compared to 79% without NSAIDs. The study identified four genetic abnormalities predictive of esophageal cancer progression.
Researchers found a significant circadian rhythm in swim performance, with athletes performing better in the evening and worse in the morning. The study's results suggest that a circadian rhythm affects athletic performance, with peak performance occurring at 11pm.
Researchers from UNC and Dana Farber Cancer Institute found that industry-funded breast cancer trials are more likely to have positive outcomes compared to non-pharmaceutical funded studies. The study also revealed significant differences in clinical trial design and outcome between industry-supported and non-industry studies.
Researchers found that bacteria like E. coli swim 'to the left' due to opposing forces of flow and bacterial motion, allowing them to find crevices and swim upstream. This phenomenon may contribute to high rates of infection in catheterized patients.
Researchers at UTSA and UH found no increased risk of genetic mutations in mouse fetuses produced by assisted reproductive technologies. The study, published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, used special mice with genetically manipulated DNA to detect point mutations.
The £12 million Grantham Institute will bring together leading researchers from Imperial College London to develop mitigation techniques and impact public and private policy. Current research areas include heatwave forecasting, airplane condensation trail reduction, and climate change modeling.
The South Pole Telescope has achieved its first light, successfully collecting test observations and paving the way for cosmological research. The $19.2 million telescope is designed to pierce the mystery of dark energy, which drives the universe's evolution.
The Stanford University School of Medicine conducted a six-month study on the effects of garlic on cholesterol levels. Despite decades of conflicting studies, the researchers found that consuming raw garlic or two popular supplements did not lower LDL cholesterol levels among adults with moderately high cholesterol levels.
Researchers have discovered that marine turtles use a relatively simple navigation system involving the Earth's magnetic field to return to the same egg-laying site. This allows them to correct any deflection caused by ocean currents, but may also cause them to wander at sea during adverse conditions.
A study of 118 pilots aged 40-69 found that experts demonstrated improved performance over time, outperforming younger pilots in traffic avoidance and scanning cockpit instruments. Pilots with advanced FAA ratings showed the least decline in skills, suggesting a 'crystallized intelligence' mechanism.
Participating in community groups and religious organizations can help maintain psychological well-being after physical decline. Researchers found that individuals with higher levels of personal growth had lower depressive symptoms.
A study of eight hospitals in Peru found that opening windows provided more than double the airflow of mechanically ventilated rooms and 18 times that of closed windows. Natural ventilation was more effective at reducing airborne infection transmission, especially in older facilities with high ceilings and large windows.
Researchers from Baylor College of Medicine identify Sox17 as critical for transforming embryonic stem cells into cardiac mesoderm, the precursor to heart muscle. The discovery provides insight into generating cardiac muscle more effectively from embryonic stem cells.
Adding CRP testing to routine assessments would increase Americans eligible for treatment by 2-25 million, mostly low-risk individuals. The medical community should focus on treating high-risk patients before expanding to low-risk populations.
A study by Duke University Medical Center researchers found that depression is independently associated with worse outcomes in heart failure patients. Symptoms of depression were common in this population and depressed patients were over 50% more likely to die or be hospitalized for their heart condition than non-depressed patients.
A national study found that adolescents who had sex early showed a 20 percent increase in delinquent acts one year later compared to those whose first sexual experience occurred at the average age for their school. In contrast, those teens who waited longer than average to have sex had delinquency rates 50 percent lower.
A new study at Ohio State University has found that manual dishwashing can be made more efficient and effective by using cooler-than-recommended water and different sanitizing techniques. The researchers discovered that certain foods, such as cheese and milk, can harbor bacteria when dried onto dishware, while lipstick has antimicrobia...
A diet rich in black soya beans could help control weight, lower fat and cholesterol levels, and aid in the prevention of diabetes. The soya protein may be having an effect on fat metabolism in the liver and adipose tissue, reducing synthesis of new fatty acids and cholesterol.
A breath test using a color sensor can detect lung cancer with moderate accuracy in early stages, showing promise for non-invasive screening. The test detects changes in volatile organic compounds produced by lung cancer cells.
Researchers at Stanford University School of Medicine and Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital found a once-a-day treatment with PTZ improved learning and memory in mice with Down syndrome symptoms. The gains lasted for months after the treatment was discontinued.
Researchers at CU-Boulder have developed a new technique to generate laser-like X-ray beams, which could improve medical imaging resolution by a thousand times. The technique uses a powerful laser to pluck an electron from an atom and then slam it back into the same atom, generating a weak but directed beam of X-rays.
A case study reports a 36-year-old bodybuilder developing diabetes after using growth hormone and anabolic steroids for extended periods. Regular blood sugar checks are urged for individuals taking high doses of growth hormone to prevent similar cases.
Chinese scientists develop heat and irradiation treatment to decrease levels of 'Pen a 1' allergen in prawns, reducing reactive proteins that cause seafood allergies. This non-GMO method may provide an alternative to genetic manipulation, suitable for those wary of genetically modified foods.
The European Union has launched the International Polar Year (IPY) 2007-2008, a massive scientific undertaking that brings together 50,000 people from over 60 nations to study the Earth's polar regions. The IPY aims to deepen international partnerships and create trust through political and scientific dialogue.
A study of 620 people with gastroenteritis found that those who developed IBS were more likely to experience high stress, anxiety, and perfectionism. Cognitive behavioural therapy may be an effective treatment for this condition, which affects up to 15% of adults in industrialised countries.
A new study found that androgen deprivation therapy for prostate cancer may increase the risk of death from heart disease in patients over age 65. After adjusting for other cardiovascular risk factors, researchers found a significant link between ADT use and cardiac-related deaths among older men.
New research reveals kids consider multiple factors when deciding who to include in their groups, including social skills, group dynamics, bias, and inclusion/exclusion. Understanding these processes can help address exclusion and promote social justice.
A large study found that living in greener neighborhoods or close to grocery stores is associated with reduced risk of childhood overweight. Increased green space was closely tied to decreased risk for children in higher population density areas.
Network Foundation Technologies receives grant to develop low-cost online broadcasting technology, creating high-tech jobs and economic development in the community. The company's innovative technology has the potential to bring large-scale, low-cost television-style broadcasting to large audiences via the Internet.
Research at the University of Chicago found that sharing new information with people who know you well can slow down communication. This happens because they often use short, ambiguous messages, assuming the other person already knows the information.
Researchers led by paleobiologist Jere H. Lipps argue that Europa's icy surface may harbor life due to the presence of water ice, briny oceans, and tidal friction generating heat. This could lead to a variety of habitats supporting life forms, from microorganisms to macroscopic organisms.
The study found that the inhabitants of Christopher Columbus' settlement in La Isabela, Dominican Republic, desperately tried to extract silver from lead ore brought from Spain. They discovered an improvised smelting process to separate the precious metal, but their methods were not efficient.
Research suggests that scriptural violence sanctioned by God can increase aggression in believers. A study found that participants who read a parable with violent content were more aggressive, regardless of their religious affiliation. The results imply that exposure to violent scriptures may contribute to the origins of violent religi...
A new satellite method has overcome an obstacle to measuring atmospheric water vapor, providing valuable insights for studying climate and weather. Meanwhile, researchers suggest that irrigation may be causing regional cooling that masks the effects of greenhouse gas warming in certain regions.
Researchers Uzi Landman and Wei Kang show that Navier-Stokes equations can accurately describe liquid bridge behavior in realistic environments. Their study reveals the importance of molecular evaporation and condensation processes in shaping the nanobridge's shape.
A study of 10 Northeastern urban forests found no common urban park plant complex, but shows that population levels impact native and nonnative species diversity. The research suggests that urban park managers should consider the ratio of native to nonnative species when implementing vegetation restoration projects.
A Mayo Clinic study has identified a genetic mutation associated with an inherited predisposition to atrial fibrillation, a type of irregular heartbeat. The discovery may lead to improved identification and treatment of younger patients affected by this condition.
Researchers from the Whitehead Institute have discovered that a specific microRNA helps prevent tumor formation by regulating the Hmga2 gene. In mice with compromised immune systems, cells expressing Hmga2 with disrupted let-7 sites developed tumors, highlighting a new mechanism for cancer formation.
A VA researcher has developed a method to identify men at risk for high-grade prostate cancer, reducing the need for unnecessary biopsies. The study found that a high PSA adjusted for prostate size and Gleason scores above 7 indicate a higher risk of life-threatening prostate cancer.
Scientists have obtained a spectrum of a planet orbiting another star, revealing the presence of silicate dust in its atmosphere. The discovery was made using NASA's Spitzer Space Telescope and represents a significant advance in extrasolar planetary science.
A philosopher argues that intelligent design lacks testability due to the inability of observations to discriminate between ID claims and competing theories. He also points out that criticism of evolution is not a sufficient test for ID, and auxiliary assumptions about the designer's goals are not independently justified.
Researchers have identified potential new treatments for three serious diseases: a drug that increases SMN production in mice with spinal muscular atrophy, overexpression of Akt that converts a less invasive to a highly invasive melanoma, and inhibition of PKC-epsilon that prevents insulin resistance in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease
Researchers found intricate tilework in medieval Islamic architecture exhibits decagonal quasicrystal geometry, a concept discovered in the West in the 1970s and 1980s. This finding suggests that medieval Islamic artisans used specialized tiles, called girih tiles, to create complex patterns without lengthy, painstaking processes.
Researchers observed chimpanzees using spear-like tools to hunt lesser bushbabies from cavities in hollow branches. The hunting behavior was systematic and consistent, suggesting it was habitual, but only successful in one of 22 recorded instances.
Researchers identified Jumonji proteins essential for cellular differentiation, inactivating genes critical to embryogenesis. The study uses C. elegans and mouse embryonic stem cells, with potential applications in cancer treatment using inhibitors.
David H. Baker, a renowned expert in animal and nutritional sciences, will be honored with the Charles A. Black Award for his outstanding achievements in the field. His research has led to significant discoveries about amino acid metabolism, toxicology, and nutrient needs of humans and animals.
Researchers found that FASD children had longer reaction times and made more direction errors in eye-movement tasks. The study provides a powerful tool for assessing executive-function deficits in individuals with FASD.
A new Swedish study reveals that university students engaging in high-risk alcohol consumption benefit most from a skills-training program. The program, which combines cognitive-skill intervention and motivational techniques, was found to be more effective than other interventions in reducing alcohol consumption among at-risk students.