B. Montgomery Pettitt, a UH chemistry professor, has been recognized as an American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) Fellow for his distinguished work in computational and theoretical chemistry. He is one of only three researchers at UH to receive this honor.
Research found that parental education moderates genetic influences on reading disability, suggesting genes play a larger role in high-education families. The study's results have implications for national education policies, suggesting a more nuanced approach to meeting academic standards.
Researchers successfully engineered E. coli to synthesize bacterial aromatic polyketides, a class of natural products including antibiotics like tetracycline and anticancer compounds like doxorubicin. The breakthrough allows for mass production of these vital compounds using simpler organisms.
Researchers have created a family tree of 2,000 protea plant species, revealing that two regions – South Western Australia and the Cape Floristic Region – are experiencing accelerated speciation rates. This surge is linked to climate change approximately 10-20 million years ago, which led to hotter, drier conditions and vegetation fires.
Research in mice reveals genetic and hormonal factors contribute to migraines with aura, affecting women more frequently than men. Hormonal fluctuations, particularly estrogen, modulate an individual's susceptibility to migraines.
A new study found a population of anergic B cells in the blood of healthy adults, which accounted for 2.5% of circulating B cells. These cells may contain precursors to self-attacking immune cells seen in autoimmune diseases like lupus and RA.
A recent FAS survey found that scientists are hesitant to collaborate with law enforcement agencies due to concerns over misinformation and mistrust. The survey suggests that clearer communication and understanding between the scientific community and law enforcement are essential for improving their working relationship.
Researchers at American Museum of Natural History found a close evolutionary relationship between malarial parasites in rats and humans, including Plasmodium falciparum. The study suggests that the most deadly form of malaria may have originated from rodents.
A new study reveals that a Philip Morris scientist established close connections with the Chulabhorn Research Institute in Thailand, which is designated as a WHO Collaborating Centre. This link raises concerns about the tobacco industry's ability to influence medical research and teaching at an academic institution allied with the WHO.
Researchers developed a method to analyze genetic variations in HCV-infected patients, predicting their response to antiviral therapy. This approach may lead to a test that identifies targets for new antiviral drugs.
A genetic variation affecting the CYP2C19 enzyme makes anti-clotting drug clopidogrel less effective in young heart attack patients, increasing risk of death, another heart attack, or stent thrombosis. Carriers of the gene variation are four times more likely to experience cardiovascular events than non-carriers.
Researchers at MIT have made significant progress in understanding the mysteries of metallic glass, a class of materials that has resisted analysis for decades. The discovery could lead to the rapid creation of useful new glasses made from metallic alloys with unique physical and magnetic properties.
A recent study suggests that college students can benefit from owning a pet, with nearly a quarter reporting that their pets helped them get through difficult times. Students who lived with dogs or cats were less likely to feel lonely and depressed, highlighting the importance of animal companionship in young adulthood.
A population genetics expert argues that cousin marriage laws are ill-advised due to a smaller risk of birth defects than previously assumed. The laws, which vary by state in the US, reflect outmoded prejudices and oversimplified views of heredity.
Researchers found that maximum size of organisms increased in two distinct time-intervals, correlating with major oxygenation events. This discovery sheds light on the evolution of life on Earth, revealing a pattern of innovation and environmental opportunity.
A simple questionnaire can replace a doctor's exam to qualify for a job, providing a more accurate forecast of competency. The test is highly effective, with 98% accuracy, and can help those previously deemed unemployable find suitable work. This innovation brings excellent news for employers, reducing medical costs and litigation risks.
Researchers have identified a novel zebrafish model of Costello syndrome, a developmental disorder caused by mutations in the H-RAS gene. The study reveals that activated H-RAS promotes overabundant cell growth and hallmarks of Costello Syndrome, including heart defects and physical deformities.
Scientists express human CLN3 gene mutations in yeast cells to study Batten disease, finding that mutated cells' severity parallels human symptoms. The study also opens new avenues for investigating therapeutic compounds to treat the disease.
A new study at Ohio State University Medical Center has successfully grown human blood platelets in a laboratory for transfusion. The three-dimensional bioreactor produced up to 1.2 million platelets per day, continuing production for over 32 days.
Researchers found shade coffee farms support widespread dispersal of native trees, preserving genetic diversity and sheltering native wildlife. The study highlights the ecological benefits of traditional agriculture in promoting biodiversity and connecting habitat patches.
A new study reveals that shade-grown coffee farms promote plant gene flow across fragmented habitats by supporting seed dispersal processes. This helps maintain the genetic diversity of native tree species.
Research found that normal-weight mothers who accurately assessed their pre-pregnancy weight had half the odds of excessive gestational weight gain compared to those who underestimated. Under-assessors were younger, non-white, lower-income, and less educated, with poorer dietary habits.
Carbon nanotubes form extremely tight contacts with neuronal cell membranes, creating shortcuts between neurons for enhanced excitability. This breakthrough has the potential to treat traumatic brain injuries, Parkinson's disease, and severe depression by bypassing faulty brain wiring.
Researchers have identified genes controlling snail shell handedness, similar to those used by humans to set up left-right asymmetry. These findings suggest that the same genetic pathway has been responsible for establishing left-right symmetry in animals for 500-650 million years.
A newly identified gene MACC1 has been found to be a powerful predictor of colon cancer metastasis. Patients with low MACC1 levels have a longer life expectancy compared to those with high MACC1 levels.
Researchers have found that men outnumbered women in the ancient African exodus, tracing variations in X chromosomes and non-sex chromosomes to support their conclusion. The study's lead author notes that these findings align with anthropologists' teachings on hunter-gatherer populations.
Researchers have identified a single gene, G9a, controlling cell flexibility in embryos and potential for medical cell replacement therapy. This discovery sheds light on the process of cell differentiation and could pave the way for new approaches to reprogram cells in a controlled manner.
Researchers have discovered that two cardiovascular proteins, SRF and myocardin, work together in the brain's blood vessels to decrease blood flow and impair amyloid beta removal. Studies in human cells and mice show that these proteins increase toxic amyloid beta levels, contributing to Alzheimer's disease.
Scientists have successfully recreated the hallmarks of a genetic disorder in a lab dish using patient-derived induced pluripotent stem cells, which can now be used to study and develop new therapies for genetic diseases. The disease-specific cells retain the same traits as those affected in patients with spinal muscular atrophy, allow...
Nationwide Finnish study reveals that well-developed outpatient services and higher outpatient-to-inpatient ratios are associated with a significantly reduced risk of death by suicide. Emergency services operating 24/7 also showed a risk reduction of 16%.
A recent Mayo Clinic study found adults with asthma are seven times more likely to develop invasive pneumococcal diseases, a serious and potentially fatal condition. The researchers recommend including asthma as an indication for pneumococcal vaccination in adults, which could significantly reduce instances of this disease.
The partnership aims to explore innovative solutions in transportation using $200,000 annual grants for two years. Researchers from both institutions will work together to achieve commercialization and attract external funding.
A recent study by researchers at the University of Bath has found that men who were sexually abused as children are up to ten times more likely to contemplate taking their own lives. This increased risk is attributed to societal stigma and lack of confiding in others, leading to delayed diagnosis and treatment.
Researchers discovered that noscapine, an ingredient in common cough medication, reduced tumor growth by 60% and limited tumor spread by 65% without causing side effects. The findings suggest a promising treatment for advanced prostate cancer.
Physicists Mickey Chiu and Hooman Davoudiasl were awarded the Presidential Early Career Award for their innovative research in quantum chromodynamics and theoretical particle physics. Their work aims to understand the substructure of protons and address fundamental problems in the Standard Model.
A new international public-private partnership aims to develop small molecule inhibitors for 25 proteins involved in epigenetic signalling. The project, led by the Structural Genomics Consortium, involves major pharmaceutical companies and academia.
A study by Columbia University's Mailman School of Public Health found that teen sexual risk behaviors are similar among youth with few and those with many non-sexual health risks. Despite differences in overall health risk levels, trends in sexual behavior were remarkably consistent across both groups.
University of Idaho engineers have developed unique new technology that will be used in NASA's Landsat Data Continuity Mission and Magnetospheric Multiscale Mission. The technology includes advanced data compression and channel coder algorithms, increasing science data return and protecting data fidelity.
A recent study used Diffusion Tensor Imaging (DTI) to assess white-matter microstructure in youth with and without histories of heavy prenatal alcohol exposure. The findings show that alcohol can damage the microstructural integrity of fetal cerebral white matter, particularly in the frontal and occipital lobes, which are relevant for ...
A recent study published in Physical Therapy found that older adults' perceptions of their overall health and balance significantly influence their walking activity. Those who perceived both as good walked the most blocks per week, while those who perceived one or both as poor walked less.
Researchers have identified a gene mutation in SFTPA2 that is linked to an inherited form of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, a lethal lung disease affecting older adults. The same mutation is also associated with lung cancer.
A study published in JAMA found that a diet high in low-glycemic foods, such as nuts and beans, improved glycemic control and cardiovascular risk factors in patients with type 2 diabetes. The ESC recommends structured lifestyle advice for diabetes management, suggesting it may be as effective as some drug interventions.
A team of UBC researchers found that a mysterious force known as dark energy is responsible for the acceleration of the Universe, contradicting a theory that suggested the Earth was near the center of a giant void. The study used data from various sources, including the Wilkinson Microwave Anisotropy Probe satellite.
A new US government report suggests that abrupt climate changes could occur within decades, with rapid sea level rise and severe droughts predicted. The report synthesizes the latest evidence on four specific threats for the 21st century, including melting of polar ice sheets and acceleration of seaward flow.
A new, portable ultrasound device created by Cornell graduate student George K. Lewis can treat prostate tumors and kidney stones by breaking them up, while also relieving arthritis pressure. The device is smaller, more powerful, and less expensive than traditional models, paving the way for its use in hospitals and medical research labs.
Researchers found a previously unknown form of biofilm in an oxygen-deficient lake within the Frasassi cave system in Italy. The unique microbial ropes grow slowly due to limited energy availability, and are composed of bacteria and archaea species.
Research suggests shaming children with high self-esteem can increase their aggressive behavior, contradicting traditional views that low self-esteem underlies aggression. Narcissistic individuals with high self-esteem are more vulnerable to shameful events and may react defensively.
Paul M. Torrens, an associate professor at Arizona State University, received the Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers (PECASE) for his work on crowd behavior modeling using 3-D computational modeling. His research has been recognized as a pioneer in the emerging field of geosimulation.
A combination of prophylactic antibiotics, barrier isolation, and air quality control measures significantly reduces mortality risk in immunocompromised cancer patients. The intervention shows a 40% reduction in all-cause mortality at 30 days post-treatment, with improved survival only seen when antibiotic and anti-fungal prophylaxis a...
The Carnegie Institution has been awarded a $9,400 grant to preserve and enhance access to a collection of historic photographs spanning five decades from 1904 to the 1950s. The collection includes thousands of images important to the history of geophysics, atomic physics, and astronomy.
Individuals with the ADH1C*1 gene variant produce more acetaldehyde, leading to greater cellular DNA damage and a heightened risk of colorectal cancer. Chronic drinking is also a known risk factor for colorectal cancer.
A team of researchers used seismic waves to create CAT-scan-like images of the Soufriere Hills Volcano's internal structure. The study found an elongated magma chamber that fills with magma, causing it to decompress and resulting in greater eruptions than expected.
A social psychologist replicated Stanley Milgram's famous obedience experiment and found that compliance rates remained largely unchanged, with no difference between men and women. The study suggests that situational factors still operate today, influencing people's willingness to follow authority figures.
Case Western Reserve professor David Gurarie develops mathematical models to track symptoms, treatment outcomes and environmental conditions of diseases. These models allow doctors to make predictions about effective treatment and help identify areas where new diseases may emerge.
Future increases in wind strength along the California coast may lead to more intense upwelling of cold water, potentially causing a larger 'dead zone' off the Oregon coast. Stronger winds could also create hazardous fire conditions in Southern California.
A study published in Preventive Medicine found that rural Americans who regularly eat at buffets and engage in low physical activity are more likely to be obese. The research also highlights the importance of community-friendly transportation and access to healthy foods in reducing obesity rates.
Researchers from Caltech have developed new titanium-based structural metallic-glass composites that are lighter, less expensive, yet still maintain their toughness and ductility. The breakthroughs could significantly improve the performance of aerospace structures.
A new study by political scientists Jane Junn and Natalie Masuoka compares the racial consciousness of black and Asian-Americans, revealing that Asian Americans are less attached to their racial identity. The research explores how factors such as state-sponsored racial classification, immigration policy, and racial stereotypes influenc...
Recent discoveries in neuroscience reveal that mirror neurons fire when performing or observing tasks, playing a crucial role in learning motor skills, language acquisition, and social cognition. The ESF workshop highlighted the importance of mirror-based action and emotion understanding in mind-reading abilities.
A new study published in CMAJ found that patients receiving drug eluting stents had better outcomes, including lower mortality rates, compared to those with bare metal stents. However, the study also noted an increased risk of repeat revascularization procedures or death after three years.