Researchers at NIST found that optimal work surface heights of 26 inches for image quality and 36 inches for speed can improve fingerprint capture. Participants preferred using their right hands, which reduced processing time.
A six-month study found that teens who completed a comprehensive intervention program significantly reduced their substance abuse and depression, and increased their social stability. The program offered 12 individual therapy sessions and four HIV education/skills practice sessions, adapted for teens living on the streets.
A novel form of trypanosomiasis has been identified in India, resulting from a deficiency in apolipoprotein L-1. Analysis revealed that the patient's serum lacked the protein's trypanolytic activity, which normally destroys parasites.
The New Horizons spacecraft is on course to swing past Jupiter, accelerating its speed and testing its systems ahead of its Pluto encounter. The mission will collect valuable science data on Jupiter's atmosphere, magnetic field, and moons.
Researchers in Morocco found that combining cypress with lavender or mycorrhizal fungi increases survival rates and growth of young saplings. This approach also reduces soil erosion and improves tree development.
Researchers at NIST have developed a miniaturized technique for separating minute samples of proteins, amino acids, and other chemical mixtures. The new 'gradient elution moving boundary electrophoresis' (GEMBE) method works by opposing the movement of mixture components with a stream of buffering solution flowing at a variable rate.
A new study by Harvard researchers estimates that US polio vaccination has saved over $180 billion in medical costs, preventing approximately 1.1 million cases of paralytic polio and 160,000 deaths between 1955 and 2005.
A new model language has been developed to guide clinical researchers in properly disclosing their financial interests in research, providing guidance on risks and benefits to participants. The language includes specific wording for various types of financial interests, aiming to minimize potential risks to research subjects.
The Sistema Interamericano de Metrologia (SIM) network enables faster time comparisons between countries, allowing small nations to evaluate their measurements against world standards. National metrology institutes in member OAS nations participate in the network, which currently compares times between Brazil, Canada, Mexico, and the US.
A new class of aluminum-hydrogen compounds has been synthesized with potential applications in solid rocket fuel and the hydrogen economy. The compounds' relative stability may enable more efficient propulsion systems and cleaner energy production.
Researchers have identified a new class of lipids in tears and oleamide, a previously unknown lipid, shedding light on the complex design of tears. The discovery may help scientists better understand eye-related disorders like dry eye disease, which affects millions Americans.
Scientists at Brookhaven National Laboratory have successfully generated extremely short light pulses using a new technique that could be used in the next generation of light source facilities. The team observed superradiance, a phenomenon where light intensity grows as it interacts with an electron beam.
Researchers developed a simple and non-invasive gene probe to diagnose early stage lung cancer in current and former smokers. The test identified 76% of stage I lung cancer patients whose tumors also showed the same genetic loss, outperforming existing sputum cytology tests.
Researchers at USC are exploring a novel way to manipulate the body's natural defense system to produce antibodies that can neutralize HIV. By targeting hematopoietic stem cells and using an HIV-based lentiviral vector, they aim to create 'designer immune cells' that can combat the virus.
A new study found that breast cancer patients with lower household income and less education are more likely to receive reduced doses of chemotherapy. Severely obese women were four times as likely to receive a reduced dose, while those with less than a high school education were three times as likely.
A Johns Hopkins study finds that individuals entering drug treatment programs are more likely to be female, unemployed, and HIV-positive, with a history of mental illness. This highlights the need for strong linkages between needle exchange programs and treatment services to address co-occurring health problems.
A new study finds that nitrogen release from decaying plant material follows a predictable pattern worldwide, driven by initial nitrogen concentration. This discovery improves understanding of nutrient dynamics, vegetation growth, and carbon sequestration, essential for predicting climate change impacts.
A team of researchers at UC Riverside has successfully designed a molecule that can move in a straight line and carry tiny shopping bags with up to two CO2 molecules. The new molecule carrier runs on a copper surface and requires precise energy control, making it an essential step towards molecular-scale machinery.
A new study published in The Lancet found that folic acid supplementation can improve memory and information processing speed in older adults. Researchers randomly assigned participants to receive either 800 micrograms of folic acid daily or a placebo for 3 years, with significant improvements observed in those receiving the supplement.
Researchers investigated how specific body characteristics affect the elderly's ability to regulate temperature during cold stress. The study found that certain traits, such as percent body fat and skeletal muscle mass, become more important with age, suggesting changes in the body's thermoregulatory responses.
The LSU School of Social Work is offering group interventions to reduce long-term consequences of post-hurricane trauma in elementary school-aged children. The program aims to help caregivers cope with their children's emotions and reactions to the disaster.
A comprehensive immunization strategy has reduced global measles mortality by 60% over the past six years, saving nearly 7.5 million lives. The strategy's four components have been instrumental in achieving this goal, particularly in high-burden countries.
Researchers have identified a neural bottleneck in the brain that prevents simultaneous processing of multiple tasks, such as driving and talking on a cell phone. The lateral frontal and prefrontal cortex regions were found to be responsible for this limitation, which causes a delay in neural activity when performing two demanding tasks.
Researchers at Rice University have developed a novel way to deliver drugs directly into cancer cells using buckyball nanoparticles as passkeys. The technique, which mimics viral proteins, shows promise in penetrating the defenses of liver and neuroblastoma cancer cells, two types often difficult to treat.
Researchers found that replacing SH2B1 only in the brain of mice lacking it prevents obesity and diabetes. The study implicates SH2B1 as a potential target for treating obesity and type II diabetes.
Most fertility clinics fail to adhere to advertising guidelines, leading to potential misinformation for patients. Private clinics were more likely to publish success rates and use comparative marketing, but often failed to provide accurate information.
A recent study by researchers at Rice University has identified a key role for the protein Ras in promoting nerve cell growth and tumorigenesis in individuals with neurofibromatosis. The study found that defects in the Nf1 gene disrupt the normal regulatory mechanism, leading to an overactive signaling pathway.
Researchers at Rice University have identified a naturally occurring blood protein called serum amyloid P, or SAP, which prevents the formation of life-threatening scar tissue in fibrotic diseases. The discovery has promising results in lab animal tests and could eventually save thousands of lives with human clinical trials.
A study of internationally adopted children sheds new light on infant language development, showing that older children follow the same stages as infants when learning a new language. This challenges traditional theories and suggests that these stages are side effects of the processes children use to learn words and grammar.
Researchers discovered that bumblebee workers specialize in tasks such as incubating young and fanning wings to cool the nest. The study found strong evidence for job specialization, with larger bees taking on foraging tasks, and smaller bees performing temperature-regulation duties.
Researchers analyzed interaction between individual raindrops and soil particles, dispelling a 50-year-old misconception about how rain-splash transport works. The study provides a theoretical model for the transfer of momentum carried by raindrops to sand grains.
Researchers will study anal intercourse, rectal microbicides, and social networks to better understand HIV transmission. The findings will contribute to the development of prevention technologies that can be used by those engaging in anal intercourse.
Researchers have made a breakthrough in molecular technology that could help deliver life-saving drugs directly to cancer-ridden cells. The discovery involves attaching therapeutic drugs to molecules using tiny molecules that can travel through the bloodstream.
Researchers found that tumor cells treated with agents inducing apoptosis were more likely to undergo autophagy when p53 expression was inhibited. Inhibiting autophagy increased the effectiveness of chemotherapy and delayed tumor recurrence in mouse models.
Researchers confirm that tobacco manufacturers have steadily increased the levels of nicotine in cigarettes since 1998, with an average annual increase of 1.6%. This re-analysis also found that design features such as puff count and flavor types contribute to increased addiction.
Researchers are exploring a new way to harness the body's natural defense system to fight HIV. They are designing modified viruses that can deliver therapeutic payloads to specific cells, potentially creating a cure for AIDS.
The 2006 Atlantic hurricane season had near-normal activity with nine named storms, including five hurricanes, due to cooler sea surface temperatures and the shift of the Bermuda High. This resulted in stronger winds and reduced thunderstorm formation.
A study found that newborns with low blood sodium consumed more dietary sodium and weighed more than their peers. The researchers concluded that very low serum sodium in pre-term and new-born infants is a significant contributor to long-term sodium intake, a key marker for obesity.
Robert Trivers, a Rutgers University professor, has been awarded the prestigious Crafoord Prize in Biosciences for his groundbreaking research on social evolution and conflict. The prize recognizes his foundational analysis of social behavior patterns in animals, which has inspired significant behavioral ecologists' work.
A new study finds that tanshinone IIA, an active ingredient in the Chinese herb danshen, significantly reduces blood pressure in hamsters. The treatment also enhances expression of endothelial nitric oxide synthase and increases production of nitric oxide.
Researchers at the University of Missouri-Columbia have developed a method to align polar molecules in crystals, which could lead to faster and more efficient microchips. This breakthrough has the potential to reduce energy costs and create new technologies that make computers cooler.
Researchers at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine propose a new approach for brain-machine interfaces using undamaged nervous tissue to provide command signals to drive prosthetics. The system may one day enable people with spinal-cord injuries or limb loss to regain control over their devices.
Researchers at the University of Exeter have discovered a unique surface structure in the Cyphochilus beetle that creates its brilliant whiteness. This innovative design could lead to improved ultra-thin materials for various industries.
A study shows that SH2B1 in the brain regulates body weight and fat content, implicating it as a potential target for treating obesity and type II diabetes. Additionally, researchers have found that autophagy represents a survival mechanism for tumor cells treated with agents that initiate tumor cell death.
Researchers have gathered quantitative temperature data from arctic lake sediments and glaciers, revealing temperatures five degrees warmer than today. This finding provides a climate analogue to inform future predictions, highlighting the exceptional magnitude and rate of warming in the Arctic.
A study found that temporary inhibition of native language words helps learners focus on the new language. Fluently bilingual speakers were less prone to this effect, suggesting it's an adaptive strategy during initial second language learning stages.
A new forest reserve in Colombia has been created to protect the chestnut-capped piha, an Endangered bird species restricted to a few tiny remnant forest patches. The reserve also safeguards habitats for seven Vulnerable and four Endangered frog species, including one believed to be found only at this site.
A new study found that adding Cetuximab to radiation therapy does not increase the rate or duration of mucositis or dysphagia in head and neck cancer patients. The median follow-up time was 54 months, with fewer than 10% experiencing prolonged toxicities.
Researchers found that adding cetuximab to radiation therapy and chemotherapy improved local regional control and overall survival in patients with locally advanced squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck. Seventy-two percent achieved a complete response two months after completion of therapy, while 95 percent were disease-free.
Obese and less educated women with breast cancer are more likely to receive reduced chemotherapy doses, threatening their survival. Research shows that doctors often reduce doses for these patients without solid medical basis, highlighting treatment disparities in cancer care.
A new study has developed a generic global law to predict large-scale patterns in litter mass decay rates and nitrogen release from litter. The research found that the dominant drivers of nitrogen release were initial concentration and remaining mass of leaf and root litter.
A review of government policy is needed to increase HIV testing uptake in the UK. Lucy Frith argues that new technologies, antiretroviral therapy, and patient autonomy make self-testing safer and more effective.
Researchers at the University of Pittsburgh have demonstrated that low-dose carbon monoxide can significantly inhibit oxygen-induced damage to lung cells. The study's findings suggest that CO may expand therapeutic options for treating ARDS, a life-threatening condition with high mortality rates.
A Johns Hopkins Kimmel Cancer Center team discovered that a combination of lovastatin and cyclopamine killed 63% of medulloblastoma cells, compared to fewer than 20% with either drug alone. The duo blocks cell-signaling proteins, leading to cancer cell death through apoptosis.
Researchers have made the first measurements of bat wake fields, revealing a novel lift-generating mechanism. Bat wings are highly articulated and flexible, allowing for greater maneuverability than birds and insects. The findings could lead to the development of more efficient tiny flying machines.
The University of Pittsburgh has been awarded a five-year, $13 million NIH grant to study chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and develop novel treatment options. Researchers will investigate the molecular and cellular characteristics of COPD to better understand its progression and potential treatments.
A University of Michigan study found that women who took control of choosing their breast cancer surgeon were more likely to be treated by high-volume surgeons and at accredited cancer centers. Women with higher education and incomes were also more likely to select their surgeon based on reputation.
Researchers found that antihypertensive agents ARBs and ACE inhibitors are the least associated with incident diabetes, followed by calcium-channel blockers and placebo. The study provides a systematic review of clinical trials and finds highly coherent estimates that are robust to sensitivity analyses.
Land plants have evolved microscopic pores called stomata to conserve water and regulate CO2 uptake. The discovery of genes Speechless and Mute sheds light on this process, allowing for better understanding of plant growth and development.
Albert Fert's discovery of giant magnetoresistance has revolutionized the development of spintronics, enabling high-performance magnetic read heads in hard drives. This technology has a significant impact on information and communications technologies.