Researchers have identified a key chemical, bicarbonate, that signals Bacillus anthracis to become lethal, offering a potential target for new antibacterial treatments. The study builds on earlier observations of the bacterium's response to host conditions, confirming bicarbonate as the essential component for virulence gene expression.
Researchers at Rice University have developed a graphene-based memory device that can store large amounts of data in a two-dimensional array. This technology increases storage capacity by a factor of five and consumes virtually no power.
The five-year, $4 million grant will support biodiversity field surveys, screen microbes and plants for applications to human health and energy needs. The research aims to conserve endangered species and develop local conservation efforts in Indonesia's tropical forests.
A study of smokers with attention deficit and hyperactivity symptoms found those with elevated hyperactivity and impulsivity showed lower quit rates compared to those with inattention or no A.D.H.D. symptoms.
Children born four months before the height of cold and flu season have a greater risk of developing childhood asthma than children born at any other time of year. The study found that birth timing is independently linked to asthma development, with autumn babies facing the highest risk.
A year-long study found that long-term use of a macrolide antibiotic reduced COPD exacerbations by 35% in patients with moderate to severe disease. The treatment also decreased the severity and duration of exacerbations, but its benefits are offset by concerns about growing antibiotic resistance.
Researchers found that women were surprised and puzzled by the number of contaminants detected in their homes, despite growing awareness of environmental pollution. The study highlights the need for sociologists to collaborate with life scientists to examine the personal experience of environmental problems.
A University of Michigan engineer has created a machine called VIVACE that converts slow-moving ocean and river currents into clean, renewable power. The device works by creating vortex-induced vibrations in the water, which are then converted into mechanical energy and electricity.
A new study shows JANUVIA (sitagliptin), a diabetes medicine, effectively lowers blood glucose levels in elderly patients with type 2 diabetes and is not associated with hypoglycemia. The study found that advanced age can contribute to the risk of hypoglycemia, which is why this treatment is beneficial for older patients.
Researchers from Max Planck Institute and Technical University discover that turbulent flows in pipes will inevitably become laminar, with the transition taking many years. This finding could help save energy in applications like oil pipelines.
The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston launches the TEXAS program to promote geriatrics training for physicians. The four-year program has five components, including a medical school curriculum and elder abuse education seminars, aiming to improve care for frail elderly patients.
Researchers found that white participants rated neighborhoods with black residents more negatively than those with white residents or a mix of both. The study's findings demonstrate the ongoing impact of racial stereotypes on social perceptions and neighborhood evaluations.
Researchers from Penn State and University of Maryland studied Chesapeake Bay's salinity changes due to sea-level rise. They found an increasing trend in salinity, supporting the hypothesis that climate change is impacting the Bay's ecosystem.
A new study analyzing particulate matter from Southern California wildfires confirms that the composition of smoke posed more serious potential threats to health than is generally realized. The study found that fire emissions produce a significantly larger aerosol in size, making it easier for particles to penetrate indoor structures.
Researchers found that differences between pre-K reading-disabled children and their peers diminished by pre-first grade, except for phonological awareness. Phonological awareness skills distinguished the groups at Pre-K and Pre-1, suggesting this skill is a strong predictor of reading disability.
Research suggests that light-to-moderate drinking can promote cytoprotective cellular mechanisms, reducing the risk of cardiovascular disease and cognitive decline. Moderate alcohol exposure has also been shown to activate anti-inflammatory processes and promote neuronal survival pathways.
The Iowa State researchers are developing a computer model to help create a 40-year national plan for optimizing the country's energy and transportation systems. The model will consider various energy sources and transportation technologies to balance cost, sustainability, and resiliency.
Researchers found lactic acid is an important energy source for tumor cells and discovered a way to destroy hard-to-kill cells by preventing lactate delivery. Blocking lactate transport kills oxygenated cells that starve hypoxic cells, offering a novel approach to treating tumors.
A study published in Psychology of Women Quarterly found that employees who were sexually harassed reported lower levels of job satisfaction, organizational commitment, and job performance. The study analyzed data from 89,382 people and found that younger employees were more affected by sexual harassment.
Researchers found that training individuals to read body language, facial expressions, and voice tone in others resulted in significant gains in emotional perception. This skill is crucial for successful social communication and helps overcome chronic social difficulties or isolation. The training regime, known as self-instruction trai...
Argonne's Leadership Computing Facility won the High Performance Computing Challenge Award for its outstanding energy efficiency and computational power. The ALCF achieved scores of 103 GUPS and 5080 Gflops in two categories, showcasing its ability to deliver stellar results while using a fraction of the power needed for supercomputers.
A new study shows that brain activity increases in the visual cortex when patients with macular degeneration focus on using other parts of their retina to compensate for their loss of central vision. The brain reorganizes its neural connections to process information from other parts of the eye.
Females may mate with multiple partners to avoid passing on sperm-damaging genes, boosting offspring health and sex ratio. This adaptive strategy could explain why many species have polyandrous females.
The study examines the meaning of employee engagement, which involves positive feelings about the job and motivation. The authors conclude that employers must create conditions that respect employees' energy and facilitate engagement through fair treatment, creating a feeling of trust and safety.
The program aims to develop advanced statistical methodologies for implementing USDA surveys and analyzing survey results. Four focus areas have been identified: multivariate imputation, new design and estimation methodologies, automated editing and imputation methods, and statistical multi-source predictive models.
A recent study published in Reproductive Health found that pregnant women who attended water aerobics classes had shorter labor durations and lower rates of analgesia requests compared to those who did not participate. The research suggests that moderate water aerobics during pregnancy may improve maternal and fetal health outcomes.
Researchers identified a potential new target for anticancer therapeutics by showing that well-oxygenated tumor cells use lactate as a fuel source, which is released by hypoxic tumor cells. Inhibiting this protein MCT1 disrupts the symbiotic relationship between tumor cell types and leads to decreased tumor growth in mice models.
Queen's University Belfast is set to become the UK's lead center for developing technology to counter malicious cyber-attacks. The £25M investment will fund a new Innovation and Knowledge Centre, the Center for Secure Information Technologies (CSIT), which will create secure infrastructure to safeguard electronic information.
Scientists discovered giant deep-sea single-celled organisms leaving complex tracks on the ocean floor near the Bahamas. The finding questions the fossil record and suggests that single-celled protists may have been the precursors to bilateral symmetry in animals.
The Medical College of Georgia has received a $1.27 million two-part gift from the Helene Fuld Health Trust to expand its clinical nurse leader program and create an endowment for nursing scholarships. The gift will partner with Macon State University and Georgia Southwestern University to offer advanced degrees in nursing.
Researchers used computer modeling and experimentation to investigate how cracks grow at low speeds in silicon, finding rearrangements of atoms associated with ductile materials can occur near the crack tip. This instability can lead to macroscopic changes in the path of the crack, leaving behind ridges on the crack surface.
A team of researchers has successfully generated two resonant dispersive waves on both sides of the emitting soliton, a major breakthrough in supercontinuum generation. The unique fiber design allows for efficient and compact femtosecond lasers, opening up new applications in frequency combs.
A study from Karolinska Institutet reveals that bad cholesterol inhibits the breakdown of peripheral fat in cells. The discovery opens up new theories for the association between blood lipids and metabolic syndrome.
Scientists have identified a group of genes in rice that enable a yield of up to 100% more in severe drought conditions. This breakthrough has the potential to bring relief to farmers in countries like India and Thailand, where rice crops are regularly affected by drought.
A comprehensive overview of alien species in Europe reveals over 11,000 documented species, with 15% causing economic damages and 15% harming biological diversity. The DAISIE project provides a valuable tool for managing biological invasions in Europe, enabling early detection, eradication, and control methods.
The UK Home Office is responsible for the health care of children in detention centres, where many receive inadequate education and healthcare. The Lancet Editorial highlights the appalling failures in care, including missed childhood immunisations and inadequate treatment for illnesses like malaria and sickle-cell disease.
Michael Wesch, a cultural anthropologist, has been selected as the national professor of the year for research and doctoral universities. His innovative teaching methods, including the 'World Simulation', have earned him numerous awards and recognition.
A new study published in Psychological Science found that individuals with high neuroticism levels prefer clear negative information over uncertainty. Researchers measured brain activity and found stronger responses to uncertain feedback in these individuals.
Scientists have discovered that prostacyclin stimulates the activation of uterine muscles, leading to strong contractions during labor. This finding may help develop therapies for preventing preterm labor, a serious complication of pregnancy.
Researchers at Stanford University have successfully flipped the spin of an electron and measured its new position, a key step towards faster quantum computing. The experiment achieved this in about 100 times less time than previous techniques, using ultrafast lasers.
A new study published in Psychological Science found that neurotic individuals react stronger to uncertain feedback than clear negative information. This suggests that some people prefer the devil they know over the unknown, and high levels of Neuroticism contribute to this dislike.
The INTEREST study found oral gefitinib comparable to injected docetaxel in non-small cell lung cancer patients, with better quality of life. Common side effects included rash and diarrhoea with gefitinib, while neutropenia and asthenic disorders were more common with docetaxel.
Researchers successfully produce pure insulin-producing cells from mouse embryonic stem cells, showing efficacy in treating diabetes in lab models. The findings provide proof of principle for applying this strategy to human ESCs and offer avenues for further research.
A new method for tracing zinc pollution in the atmosphere has been developed, which can identify the source of the pollution. This breakthrough could improve pollution monitoring and inform national and international strategies to reduce zinc pollution.
Researchers using ground-penetrating radar on NASA's Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter have discovered vast Martian glaciers of water ice under protective blankets of rocky debris. The concealed glaciers extend for tens of miles and are up to one-half mile thick, making them the largest reservoir of water ice on Mars outside the polar caps.
A virus causing human-like symptoms may have emerged from a bird virus 200 years ago, according to scientists studying the common cold. Human metapneumovirus has high evolutionary rates and is closely related to Avian metapneumovirus C, suggesting a potential species barrier crossing event.
Researchers at Harvard University propose that quantum computers could simulate chemical reactions with improved accuracy, reducing computational resources required. This breakthrough has significant potential for applications in drug design, materials science, and other fields.
Several new flood-tolerant rice varieties have passed tests in farmers' fields with flying colors, offering a solution to crop losses due to flooding. The varieties, which can withstand 2 weeks of submergence, are nearly identical to their susceptible counterparts but recover after severe flooding to yield well.
A study published in Personnel Psychology reveals that executives' underwater stock option portfolios are more likely to lead to voluntary turnover. Increasing the value of these portfolios can reduce the odds of turnover by substantially, suggesting that firms may need to consider alternative retention strategies.
The University of Minnesota's study found that the original design and additional weights from construction materials put too much stress on the bridge. The researchers concluded that the gusset plates were in a state of instability, which led to their collapse.
A new study reveals hazardous drinking among NZ university students begins in high school, with high levels of binge drinking and related problems. The study recommends prioritizing reduction of binge drinking in high school and implementing early identification systems on campuses.
Researchers at the University of Missouri-Columbia found that ads focusing on fear or disgust increase attention and memory in viewers, while combining both decreased impact. The study suggests that using either scare or disgust content alone is more effective in anti-tobacco campaigns than their combined approach.
A new strategy targets the cooperation among pathogens, which is more effective than killing individual cells with traditional drugs. By disrupting the teamwork, the immune system can combat any remaining infection.
A team of scientists has developed a new material for anodes that can store more lithium ions than graphite, leading to improved battery performance. The highly porous silicon structure allows for rapid charging and discharging, enabling devices like mobile phones and laptops to run for longer periods.
Research finds that specific DNA sequence variations of the serotonin transporter gene can influence drinking intensity among alcohol-dependent individuals. The study analyzed six single nucleotide polymorphisms and found a significant association between one particular variation and lower drinking intensity.
The Texas Emerging Technology Fund has awarded a record $3.5 million to NanoMedical Systems Inc., a startup founded by Mauro Ferrari, to develop a Personalized Molecular Drug-Delivery System for controlled medicine release. The system aims to provide a safer and more reliable alternative to traditional injection methods.
Researchers at Northwestern University found a way to trick the immune system of mice into believing transplanted islets are their own cells. This technique eliminated the need for immunosuppressive drugs in mice with chemically-induced diabetes after islet transplantation, showing high success rates.
Researchers at Caltech have developed a new technique called four-dimensional electron microscopy, which allows for the real-time visualization of atomic changes in materials. The technique uses ultrafast single-electron imaging to capture snapshots of molecules in motion, revealing the dynamics of structure and shape at the atomic scale.
Scientists are studying gene regulation in ants to model human aging and behavior. Epigenetic changes, not DNA sequence alterations, may underlie differences in longevity and behavior among ant castes. The study aims to identify the molecular basis for these changes.
Researchers at UCLA discover that polyphenols in red wine can block the formation of toxic brain plaques and reduce their toxicity, potentially preventing cognitive deterioration. Human clinical trials are next to test this approach.