A study shows that a wearable robotic therapy device improved arm function by an average of 23% in severely impaired stroke patients. The device, developed by MIT engineers, uses electrical muscle activity to provide power assistance and facilitate movement.
The ForsythKids program provides elementary school children with oral health education, dental exams, cleanings, and preventive care. After two rounds of treatment, there was virtually no new tooth decay among enrolled children. The program has already met and exceeded Healthy People 2010 goals in just three years.
A geophysicist from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute urges officials to consider all subduction-type tectonic boundaries as lethal due to the unpredictability of massive earthquakes. The expert highlights the importance of warning systems and educational outreach to coastal communities to mitigate the impact of tsunamis.
Researchers at UT Southwestern Medical Center have identified a small RNA molecule that regulates the contractility of the heart under stress. The study found that blocking this molecule might become a way to prevent or treat heart damage.
Researchers at MIT developed a new biopolymer suture made from material produced naturally by the human body, which is 30% stronger and more flexible than current sutures. The sutures have been cleared by the FDA for use in abdominal closures and tendon stitching, offering a potential solution to re-opening wounds.
The DOE JGI's 'Shake 'N Plate' instrument, designed to alleviate bacterial culture plating fatigue, has been recognized for its team-driven workplace solutions. The innovation has led to a steady decrease in OSHA-recordable ergonomic injuries and improved productivity at the production genomics facility.
Research by Michael Kisley and Stacey Wood found that older adults exhibit a better balance in processing emotional information, as they tend to pay equal importance to both positive and negative images. This change in emotional priorities develops gradually from age 18 to 80.
Researchers have developed a software-based approach to detecting osteoporosis using routine dental x-rays, analyzing specific trabecular bone pattern features. This technique can predict osteoporotic conditions with the same accuracy as Bone Mass Density measurements.
A new study reveals that a sudden ocean climate change in the late 1970s may be responsible for Alaska's decline in Steller sea lion population. Climate change affected water temperatures and ocean currents determining the abundance of available fish for the sea lions to eat, leading to a decline.
Researchers found high levels of zinc in deposits in the eye associated with age-related macular degeneration. The discovery may facilitate the development of effective treatments for this leading cause of blindness among the elderly.
A new UCLA study found that practicing Tai Chi chih alone boosts immunity to a level comparable to the standard vaccine against shingles. Combining Tai Chi with the vaccine results in a clinically relevant boost and added benefits for middle-aged adults.
New research from Rockefeller University and St. Jude Children’s Hospital shows that a viral protein-derived lysin can prevent middle ear infections in mice by killing the bacteria that cause them. The treatment was 100% effective against secondary infections, which contribute to much of the sickness and death rates during flu season.
Researchers at Research Australia have made a major breakthrough in understanding how platelet life span is controlled. By regulating apoptosis, two specialized molecules can extend or shorten platelet lifespan, opening up new possibilities for improving patient care and managing diseases such as cancer and blood clots.
A new protein, CADPS2, has been identified as a potential cause of autism. Research found that mice lacking this protein exhibited autistic-like characteristics, including impaired social interactions and hyperactivity.
Researchers found that cellular noise can amplify cell transformation and differentiation in bacteria cells. This discovery provides a systems-level view of gene circuits, revealing a potential role for noise in driving biological processes.
The European Association of Urology (EAU) has recommended Sutent as a first-line treatment for patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma. Clinical trials have shown that Sutent improves progression-free survival by more than doubling the median PFS compared to interferon-alpha. The new guidelines also highlight Sutent's higher obje...
A team of LSU researchers, led by John Day, join forces with world-renowned coastal scientists to publish a commentary on delta preservation. The article emphasizes the need for science-guided restoration efforts in the Mississippi River Deltaic Plain due to climate change and resource scarcity.
Scientists have identified salivary proteins and RNA sequences that are highly discriminatory for oral cancer and Sjögren's Syndrome. The use of saliva as a diagnostic tool is only a few years away, with the potential to revolutionize disease detection.
Biologists have determined the structure of an enzyme that powers 'molecular motors' in viruses, allowing for better understanding of DNA packaging. The motor, essential for inserting DNA into viral capsids, has been likened to a house-building process.
A team of geoscientists has discovered physical evidence of ancient plate tectonics in southern Greenland, dating back to 3.8 billion years ago. The finding suggests that seafloor spreading and oceanic crust formation occurred as far back as the early history of Earth.
The MONARCH system-on-a-chip demonstrates exceptional compute capacity, flexible data bandwidth capability, and beyond state-of-the-art power efficiency. It has been shown to provide sustained throughput of 64 gigaflops in preliminary tests.
Prenatal glucocorticoid exposure has been shown to have long-lasting deleterious effects on cardiovascular, metabolic, and neuroendocrine function in offspring. Additionally, research has identified a protein implicated in both autism and leukemia, with aberrant splicing detected in individuals with these conditions.
Researchers at MIT and Harvard discover the final piece of vitamin B12's synthesis pathway, solving a decades-long mystery. The enzyme BluB catalyzes the formation of a key fragment, DMB, through an unusual cannibalization reaction.
The Virtual Journal of Nanotechnology Environment, Health & Safety (VJ-Nano EHS) offers the most comprehensive knowledge base on peer-reviewed information focusing on nanomaterial impacts available to-date. ICON's online journal improves access to scientific findings on the benefits and risks of nanomaterials.
Researchers found that mitochondrial genes transfer to the nucleus in clonally reproducing plants and those capable of self-pollination. This contradicts the expectation that such migration is driven by sexual recombination.
A promising pilot study has led to a larger clinical trial of estriol as a treatment for multiple sclerosis. The trial aims to recruit 150 women and measure relapse rates over two years, potentially providing a new, affordable option with dual benefits of reducing inflammation and protecting the brain from damage.
A new nine-category matrix of harm ranks drugs by their physical harm to users, dependence potential, and societal impact. Alcohol and tobacco are found to be more harmful than previously classified substances like LSD and cannabis.
Researchers used massive computer-simulation power to model protein aggregation and its role in Parkinson's and Alzheimer's diseases. They found that beta-synuclein blocks harmful structures caused by alpha-synuclein, offering a potential treatment for debilitating diseases.
A study by Oxford Internet Institute researchers highlights the challenges of finding credible scientific sources on the web. The findings suggest that search engines play a significant role in shaping access to information, with some topics experiencing more central roles than others.
Research at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital shows that leukemic cells receive a protective niche from bone marrow mesenchymal cells, which release the amino acid asparagine to help them survive treatment with asparaginase. This finding suggests new strategies for enhancing anti-leukemic drugs and reducing leukemia recurrence rates.
Researchers discovered platelets' short life span is set by a prosurvival protein that degrades over time, triggering apoptosis. This finding may lead to extending platelet storage from five days to eight or ten days, benefiting patients undergoing chemotherapy and blood transfusions.
Researchers developed a method for effective canker sore healing using CankerMelts patches, which provide anti-inflammatory and soothing effects. The patches reduced pain and shrank canker sores to one-tenth their size after 7 days.
Researchers uncover 95 million-year-old snakelike marine animal with vestigial limbs, challenging previous understanding of limb loss in lizards. The discovery provides clues to the evolution of terrestrial lizards as they returned to water and offers insights into the development of body plans.
Dr. YiJin Ren is recognized for her groundbreaking research on tooth movement mechanisms and cytokine profiles during orthodontic treatment. She has published over 40 papers and received several awards, including the 'Outstanding Young Scientist Award' from the Netherlands Organisation for Scientific Research.
A new study found that college students experience mind-wandering almost one-third of the time, with individual results varying widely. Higher working memory capacity was linked to better focus during concentrated activities.
A new study by Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health found that fire suppression and other emergency firefighting duties significantly increase the risk of coronary heart disease deaths among firefighters. The study revealed a 10-100 times higher risk of dying from CHD while putting out fires compared to non-emergency duties.
A new research program, funded by the Economic and Social Research Council, aims to understand the impact of non-governmental agencies on reducing poverty and exclusion. The program will focus on a broad range of groups, including NGOs, advocacy networks, and social movements.
Dr. Russell is recognized for his contributions to understanding the protein antigens on Streptococcus mutans, a bacterium associated with dental caries. His work has led to the development of immunological interventions targeting this adhesin and improved mucosal immune response strategies.
Researchers at Thomas Jefferson University discovered a gene mutation that reduces the number of colon polyps, potentially cutting the risk of colon cancer. The Atp5a1 mutation is found in mice and has been linked to a significant decrease in polyp formation.
Victor Lawrence, a pioneer in digital signal processing concepts, has been awarded the IEEE Simon Ramo Medal. His work on voiceband modems, digital subscriber line technology, and broadband transmission paved the way for worldwide Internet access and high-speed data communication.
Researchers discovered a gene called Atp5a1 that, when mutated, reduces the incidence of polyps in mice. The mutation leads to decreased levels of Atp5a1 gene expression, which may provide insights into its potential role in human cancer.
Research reveals that birds can live with higher doses of sex-related genes due to ineffective dosage compensation. This challenges current thinking about the role and mechanisms of dosage compensation in species with heteromorphic sex chromosomes.
Eugenio Schuster, a controls engineer at Lehigh University, has received a five-year NSF CAREER Award to develop active control systems for nuclear fusion reactors. The goal is to regulate the density, current, and temperature of plasmas in fusion reactors to achieve self-sustaining fusion reactions.
Dr. Arthur R. Hand is recognized for his significant work on salivary gland ultrastructure and function, including the role of cyclic-AMP-dependent protein kinase and lingual lipase and amylase. He has made major contributions to our understanding of salivary glands and their various components.
Researchers at Scripps Institute have developed a new method for producing potential pharmaceuticals from natural compounds, eliminating the need for expensive protecting groups. This breakthrough could lead to significantly reduced production costs and expand interest in natural products for commercial development.
The new CarbonTracker tool will distinguish between natural and human-produced carbon cycle changes, providing verification for climate models. It will also enable policymakers to compare emissions from urban centers and businesses.
Researchers at the University of Illinois have found a novel way to manipulate matter and drive chemical reactions along a desired direction. The new technique utilizes mechanical force to alter the course of chemical reactions, yielding products not obtainable through conventional conditions.
The International Association for Dental Research (IADR) presented numerous prestigious awards and fellowships, recognizing outstanding service, scientific contributions, and research in oral health prevention. The IADR Distinguished Service Award was given to Robert Collins, while the E.W. Borrow Memorial Award recognized research in ...
Purdue University engineers have developed a structural health monitoring system to detect flaws in new composite military missiles. The system uses triaxial accelerometers to pinpoint impact locations and severity, improving durability and performance.
A new device called the BioSampler detects airborne pathogens more accurately than traditional methods, even in low concentrations. The BioSampler causes less damage to microorganisms, allowing for a more accurate assessment of their viability and potential threat to human health.
Deep-sea hydrothermal vents are found above volcanoes where upwelling of the mantle and spreading of the plates are aligned, allowing magma to breach the crust. In contrast, non-aligned zones lack hot smokers due to cooling and volatiles loss as magma moves laterally.
A study published in Journal of Vision found that people can accurately extract information from silhouetted face profiles about their front-view counterparts. The results showed a high classification accuracy for gender and age traits, with male silhouettes identified as male 83.3% of the time.
Researchers find that consuming folic acid from fortified flour at current mandated US levels and double this amount is probably safe at average intakes. However, long-term surveillance is needed to assess potential safety implications of accumulated folic acid in the population.
A new procedure, anal cytology, detected abnormal cell changes in 244 HIV-positive patients, leading to subsequent biopsy confirmations. Abnormal results prompt further investigation and management.
Dr. Grayson Marshall is being honored with the Wilmer Souder Award for his significant contributions to dental materials research. His work on SEM and AFM studies has greatly advanced our understanding of bonding mechanisms and natural interfaces with biomaterials.
The San Diego Consortium for Regenerative Medicine has received six grants totaling $16.479588 to conduct life-saving human embryonic stem cell research, including work on brain repair and spinal injuries. The consortium aims to develop cures and therapies for devastating diseases like Parkinson's and Alzheimer's.
Dr. Bruce J. Baum is recognized for his significant contributions to oral medicine and pathology, including the discovery of xerostomia's importance in clinical practice. His research has led to the development of novel treatments for salivary gland damage and single-protein-deficiency disorders.
Dr. Elliot V. Hersh has been recognized for his research on non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and local anaesthetics used in dentistry, including the approval of articaine by the US FDA. He is a prominent figure in the IADR Pharmacology, Therapeutics & Toxicology Group, having served in leadership roles and organized symposia.
A new study by Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution researchers has found significant amounts of dissolved mercury entering coastal waters through groundwater, contrary to previous assumptions. The discovery has implications for understanding the environmental impact of mercury pollution and its effects on marine ecosystems.
Dr. David Mooney is recognized for his groundbreaking work on tissue engineering and tissue regeneration, including blood vessel and bone regeneration. He will receive the IADR Isaac Schour Memorial Award, a prestigious honor acknowledging outstanding scientific contributions in the field.