A study published in the Journal of Health Care for the Poor and Underserved found that elderly adults are more likely to deny smoking when asked. Researchers used biomarkers like cotinine to validate self-reported nicotine use, revealing a significant discrepancy between true smokers and those who denied it.
The study found that couples related at a third cousin level have the highest number of offspring, with an average of 4.04 children and 9.17 grandchildren. The correlation holds true across different eras and urbanization levels, suggesting a biological basis for the association.
Researchers found that lower-income neighborhoods are associated with higher obesity rates due to limited access to healthy food and physical activity opportunities. The study highlights the importance of neighborhood-level services and structures in influencing weight-related behaviors.
Researchers have reidentified the main cause of necrotic enteritis in chickens as Clostridium perfringens, producing extracellular toxins that attack the bird's intestines. The discovery of a new toxin, NetB, has led to hope for the development of effective vaccines within two years.
The Center for Innovation in Engineering and Science Education (CIESE) received a $500,000 grant to create global and systems engineering curriculum modules for high school students. The project aims to introduce concepts and skills of global and systems engineering to approximately 700 teachers and at least 100 schools across the US a...
Researchers at the University of Michigan have developed a wearable mechanism that captures energy lost during walking to generate electricity. The device, which works similarly to regenerative braking in hybrid vehicles, has shown promise in powering devices with minimal user effort.
Researchers at Queen's University have found a link between locusts' reaction to stress and human migraines. The study shows that the locust's coma-like state is similar to what happens in people during a migraine, suggesting an evolutionary connection.
Researchers question the environmental sustainability of hybrid vehicle technology, citing its high cost and potential to slow the adoption of more innovative technologies like fuel-cell cars. The study suggests that the current craze for hybrids may be a red light for climate change and emissions reduction efforts.
A new Nature Conservancy study finds that converting land for biofuel crops results in significant carbon emissions and worsening the problem of global warming. The study analyzed various benefits of using biofuels as alternatives to oil but found they fall short of the carbon losses, leading to a 'carbon debt'.
Michael Davis has made significant advances in understanding the neural basis of fear and its applications to psychiatric research, including a proposal for using NMDA receptor signaling to enhance fear extinction. His work has shown promise in treating disorders such as PTSD, OCD, and social phobia.
Scientists at the University of Liverpool have found that natural variability in the Earth's atmosphere is masking the overall effect of global warming in the North Atlantic Ocean. Heat stored in the North Atlantic has a complex pattern, suggesting that natural changes in the atmosphere also play a role.
A specific gene variant associated with a better response to naltrexone in treating alcohol dependence has been identified, according to a large-scale analysis of the COMBINE Study. Patients carrying the variant experienced significantly improved clinical outcomes compared to those without it.
The researchers' successful sequencing of the cyanobacterium's genome has revealed its genetic secrets, shedding light on how it produces chlorophyll d and absorbs far-red light. This discovery holds potential for plant research and could lead to the development of crops that can harness a wider range of light spectrum.
A recent study by Vanderbilt University reveals that shrews, despite their small size, employ highly developed hunting strategies. The researchers discovered that these tiny mammals can detect water movements, identify prey shapes using their whiskers, and utilize their sense of smell underwater.
New research reveals VEGF-B's protective effects on nerve cells without inducing angiogenesis, providing new hope for treating neurodegenerative diseases. VEGF-B treatment has shown to inhibit brain cell death in mouse models of stroke and ocular neurodegenerative disorders.
A USC biomedical engineer examines the intricate circuitry between hand manipulation skills and specialized neural circuits in the brain. The study found that the human nervous system employs a time-critical strategy for tapping and pushing, which is necessary for executing fine finger movements.
A new study finds evidence of an ocean 'thermostat' regulating sea-surface temperatures in the Western Pacific Warm Pool, protecting coral reefs from severe warming. This discovery lends support to a long-debated theory that naturally warm waters may be more resistant to climate change.
A team approach to treating depression in older adults reduces total healthcare costs, with patients receiving IMPACT care having lower average costs over a four-year period. The cost-effectiveness of the IMPACT model makes it an attractive option for health organizations, which have already implemented it to improve patient outcomes.
A new study by the University of Minnesota and The Nature Conservancy found that turning native ecosystems into biofuel farms releases 17 to 420 times more carbon than the annual savings from replacing fossil fuels. This 'carbon debt' must be paid before biofuels can mitigate global warming.
Carnegie Mellon will lead a team to develop and promote a regulatory structure for the safe and economical capture, transport and deep geological sequestration of CO2. The grant is part of a $100 million Climate Change Initiative to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and create a cleaner economy.
New research shows that aphids feeding on low-quality Brussels sprouts are smaller and fewer in number, leading to a ripple effect throughout the food chain. This has significant implications for the structure and diversity of ecosystems, highlighting the importance of plant quality in shaping ecosystem function.
A new study found that genetic predisposition interacts with environmental factors, specifically friends' physical aggression, to predict children's physical aggression. In contrast, social aggression was more closely linked to friends' social aggression, independent of genetic factors.
Researchers reconstructed proteins from ancient bacteria to measure the Earth's temperature over billions of years, revealing a massive cooling period between 500 million and 3.5 billion years ago. This study provides insight into how life adapted to the changing environment during the Precambrian period.
Researchers address questions about future city shape and population growth's effects on the environment, highlighting cities as substantive ecosystems with complex human-environmental interactions. Cities' growing footprints contribute to global biodiversity loss, climate change, and resource depletion.
A study found that socio-economic factors and school catchment areas have a greater impact on reported sexual experience among teenagers than classroom discipline. Despite sex education efforts, schools' social organization and culture play little role in influencing pupils' behavior.
A study published in Obesity found that children who slept less were more likely to be overweight or obese. The researchers analyzed data from 17 studies and found that for every additional hour of sleep, the risk decreased by 9%.
The ACP and ACPF Diabetes Initiative has seen statistically significant improvements in clinical measures, including a nearly 50% reduction in office visits for diabetes patients. The team-based approach has also led to increased awareness of high-quality diabetes care among physicians.
The Institute for Operations Research and the Management Sciences has announced six finalists competing for the 2008 Franz Edelman Award, recognizing outstanding operations research-based projects that transform companies, industries, and lives. The finalists include teams from Western Europe, federal agencies, and a Fortune 500 company.
Columbus, a state-of-the-art European research facility, has been successfully deployed to the International Space Station (ISS) via NASA's Space Shuttle Atlantis. The laboratory will enable astronauts to conduct extensive scientific experiments in various fields, including life sciences and space science.
A study by the University of Copenhagen found that HIV medications Abacavir and Didanosine significantly increase the risk of heart attacks in patients. The risk is higher for those with pre-existing cardiovascular conditions, but can be mitigated by stopping use of these drugs.
PARP-1 and histone H1 compete for binding to gene promoters, with PARP-1 turning genes on. The study reveals a surprising number of genes are kept on by the presence of PARP-1.
A study on monkeys found that moderate prenatal exposure to alcohol and stress can lead to touch sensitivity in offspring. Researchers suggest that reducing sensory sensitivities at an early age may help prevent behavioral problems associated with fetal alcohol-related issues.
Researchers are exploring ways to manage fisheries in Southern California, with a focus on sustainability and community involvement. The collaboration aims to develop lower-cost, effective management strategies that involve all stakeholders.
A new hybrid vehicle, powered by the heat differences in the ocean, has successfully completed its first oceanic test drive. The 'thermal glider' harvests heat energy to propel itself across thousands of kilometers of water, offering a virtually unlimited energy source for propulsion.
Researchers identify Asian women as a high-risk group for congenital aneurismal fistulas, which can cause heart attack and sudden death. Hypertension is a common risk factor, and treatment involves surgery or coil insertion to prevent rupture.
Research suggests that beneficial bacteria Lactobacillus in the vagina can reduce HIV virus levels in genital secretions, making it harder for the virus to spread. The study found a link between Lactobacillus production of hydrogen peroxide and lower vaginal HIV levels.
A team of researchers used miniature backpacks with accelerometers to study the gliding behavior of Southeast Asian colugos, also known as flying lemurs. The findings show that colugos push off from trees more forcefully for long jumps but quickly reach terminal velocity and land with reduced impact forces.
A researcher at Johns Hopkins has led an international effort to compile a massive online encyclopedia of human proteins, dubbed Human Proteinpedia. The platform allows researchers worldwide to contribute and share experimental data, speeding up their work.
Researchers at the Naval Research Laboratory have successfully produced carbon nanotubes in high yields using commercially available aromatic containing resins. The method enables the production of MWNTs in moldable solid forms, films, and fibers with varying amounts of nanotubes and amorphous carbon.
VEGF-B has been shown to inhibit apoptosis in retinal cells and brain cells in mouse models of injury and stroke, suggesting its potential as a new treatment for neurodegenerative diseases. Autophagy is also identified as a virulence-associated trait and survival mechanism for the fungal pathogen Cryptococcus neoformans.
A bollworm species has evolved resistance to biotech cotton's Bt toxin in the US, contradicting predictions of rapid pest resistance. The findings confirm the effectiveness of refuge strategies to delay resistance evolution.
Researchers have discovered characteristic patterns of brain activity in people with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) that reflect an inability to perceive themselves as social creatures. The study found that individuals with ASD exhibit diminished perception of self in social interactions, similar to those playing against a computer.
Physicists at RHIC have developed a way to measure subtle fluctuations in particle beams and send corrections ahead to smooth out scattering. This technique, called stochastic cooling, aims to recreate the conditions of the early universe, potentially saving time and money.
Researchers have created fluorogen activating proteins (FAPs) that enable biologists to monitor biological activities of individual proteins in living cells in real time. The FAPs allow for simple and direct tracking of proteins on the cell surface and within living cells, eliminating cumbersome experimental steps.
Researchers have developed a transparent zebrafish that allows direct observation of internal organs and processes like tumor metastasis and blood production. The study reveals cancer cells' ability to 'home' to specific locations, enabling scientists to better understand disease progression.
A multi-institutional study found PET more reliable than CT in characterizing lung nodules as malignant. PET's superior specificity led to correctly classifying 58% of benign nodules misclassified on CT.
A new study by Rhode Island Hospital and Brown University suggests that the DSM-IV criteria for eating disorders have limited clinical utility. The study found that patients diagnosed with 'not otherwise specified' (NOS) eating disorder often met the criteria for subthreshold variants of anorexia, bulimia, or binge eating disorder.
Scientists have discovered that immune cells confront viruses just inside the lymph node, not deep within the organ. This breakthrough could help design effective anti-virus vaccines against deadly viruses like HIV. The study sheds light on how the immune system operates during a viral infection.
By analyzing yeast cells' responses to periodic salt bursts, MIT researchers developed a simple model that captures the dynamics of a critical cellular pathway. This approach provides an alternative way to study intricate biological systems without requiring extensive computational simulations.
Researchers used advanced imaging to examine brain tissue in mouse models of Alzheimer's disease, finding that amyloid plaques can develop in as little as a day and neuronal changes appear soon afterwards. The study provides new insights into the timing of brain changes associated with Alzheimer's dementia.
A 2004 survey of 1,000 Iraqi adolescents found that those exposed to the Iraq War reported higher self-esteem levels compared to Palestinian youth. The study suggests that indirect threats to their social identities may contribute to this phenomenon.
The NHLBI has stopped intensive blood glucose lowering treatment in a clinical trial of adults with type 2 diabetes, citing increased risk of death compared to standard treatment. Participants will now receive the less-intensive standard treatment.
A new study suggests that exposure to certain environmental toxins, such as mycoestrogens like zearalenone, may contribute to the early onset of puberty in young girls. The research found elevated levels of zearalenone in six out of 17 girls with central precocious puberty (CPP), a condition characterized by premature sexual development.
Scientists at the University of Adelaide are developing new vaccines and treatments to combat hepatitis C, a virus affecting over 170 million people worldwide. The five-year project aims to identify antiviral proteins and improve treatment options, offering hope for those suffering from the disease.
Researchers have found that tattooing is a more effective way of delivering DNA vaccines than intramuscular injection, producing stronger humoral and cellular immune responses. This method could have a role in routine vaccination of cattle or delivering therapeutic vaccines to humans.
A study of 7,374 participants found that those taking calcium channel blockers for high blood pressure had a lower risk of developing Parkinson's disease. The medication was shown to cut the risk by 23% compared to non-users, but not other high blood pressure medications.
Researchers found a strong seasonal fluctuation of measles transmission rate in Niamey, Niger, which can help predict annual outbreaks. Vaccinating at least 95% of children with two doses of the measles vaccine is crucial to controlling the disease, particularly in areas with high birth rates and limited access to healthcare.
Researchers at Rice University have made a breakthrough in single-molecule sensing by demonstrating simultaneous optical and electronic measurements of the same molecule. The new technology allows for mass-produced single-molecule sensors with high sensitivity at room temperature.
The Global Network, funded by NIH and Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, supports community-based health-care interventions to reduce maternal and infant mortality. The five-year grant will focus on protein supplementation and training of traditional birth attendants.
A new arenavirus has been discovered in three transplant recipients who died in Victoria, Australia in April 2007. The virus was identified through rapid sequencing technology and subsequent characterization, revealing a strain sufficiently different from existing screening methods.