Scientists at UB's Institute for Lasers, Photonics and Biophotonics have developed a stable nanoparticle that delivers short RNA molecules to silence a gene critical in many kinds of drug addiction. The approach also shows promise for treating Parkinson's disease, cancer, and other neurologic and psychiatric disorders.
Oil palm expansion in the Brazilian Amazon is likely to occur at the expense of natural forest, according to William F. Laurance and Rhett A. Butler. The proposed revision to Brazil's forest code would allow up to 30% of reserved forests to consist of oil palm plantations.
The Field Museum has received a gift of over $10 million and more than 1,700 meteorite specimens from the Planetary Studies Foundation, establishing the world's largest nongovernment meteorite collection. The collection will be housed in the new Robert A. Pritzker Center for Meteoritics and Polar Studies.
A study by Tobias Porsbring found that clotrimazole and cocktail effects can harm microalgae growth and reproduction, affecting the ocean ecosystem. The use of multiple chemicals in wastewater contributes to a 'cocktail effect' more harmful than individual chemicals.
Scientists have discovered a new fermentation pathway in algae that may lead to increased hydrogen production. This breakthrough could potentially provide a clean and sustainable energy source to replace fossil fuels.
A team of scientists has identified carbon nanostructures as catalysts for storing and releasing hydrogen. Complex hydrides show promise for hydrogen storage, but previous studies indicate defects from added catalysts. The new solvent technique allows for defect-free introduction of catalysts.
The final expedition of a four-year collaborative research program will assess the health of coral reefs without being confounded by stressors near populated shorelines. The research will provide baseline data on habitat types, keystone species, and factors promoting coral reef health during global climate change.
Researchers from the Alfred Wegener Institute have identified a tiny algal species, Azadinium spinosum, as the producer of azaspiracid toxin, causing severe poisoning in human consumers of mussels. The discovery provides an effective early warning system for mussel farms.
Researchers at Mayo Clinic found that children who require multiple surgeries under anesthesia during their first three years of life are at higher risk of developing learning disabilities later. The study, which analyzed data from over 5,000 children, suggests a possible link between anesthetic exposure and brain development.
A study published in World Journal of Gastroenterology identified four predictors of post-operative enteral nutrition problems: pre-surgery enteral nutrition, esophageal hiatal hernia, past paralytic ileus, and chronic renal dysfunction. These predictors can help determine PEG indications and potential preventive methods.
A new endoscope, Spyglass Spyscope, was used in a multi-center study to diagnose and treat disorders of the bile duct, liver, and pancreas. The procedure showed promising results, with clearance of stones achieved in 37 patients after one procedure and modification of diagnoses in 20 patients.
Researchers at UT Southwestern Medical Center found that patients with type 2 diabetes excreted less calcium through their urine when consuming a high-fiber diet. This suggests that dietary fiber reduces the body's capacity to absorb calcium, leading to potential benefits for bone health.
Researchers developed a surface treatment that increases light absorption by trapping light in three-dimensional structures and making the surfaces self-cleaning, allowing rain or dew to wash away dust and dirt. The treatment mimics the superhydrophobic surface of the lotus leaf, boosting photovoltaic cell efficiency by up to 2%.
The NIH will commit $60 million in ARRA funds to support autism research, focusing on diagnostic screening tools, early interventions, and adapting pediatric treatments for older children. The grants will promote economic recovery by creating biomedical jobs and supporting innovative projects.
The International Association for Dental Research presented several awards, including the IADR Honorary Membership to Anthony Fauci, the IADR Distinguished Service Award to Fujio Miura, and the IADR/AADR William J. Gies Awards in various categories. The organization also recognized outstanding research achievements through the IADR E.W...
The Argonne National Laboratory has developed a unique tracking technology that monitors the environmental and physical conditions of containers of nuclear materials in storage and transportation. This RFID system can simultaneously monitor thousands of drums 24/7, triggering alarms for immediate action upon detecting abnormal situations.
Research finds that licorice can block absorption of cyclosporine, a vital immunosuppressant for transplant patients. Laboratory rats showed significant drop in cyclosporine levels after consuming licorice extract.
A new study published in the Canadian Medical Association Journal found that intensive insulin therapy significantly increases the risk of hypoglycemia in critically ill patients. The study included data from 26 trials and analyzed the effect of intensive insulin therapy on vital status and hypoglycemia in the ICU setting.
The Einstein@Home project is analyzing Arecibo radio data to find binary systems consisting of neutron stars or black holes. The large computational capabilities of the project will enable detection of pulsars in binary systems with orbital periods as short as 11 minutes.
A study published in the Journal of the American College of Surgeons reveals a critical shortage of surgeons in Maryland, with rural areas particularly affected. The shortage is expected to worsen over the next decade due to an aging physician population and limited medical education programs.
The study discovered a mechanism that switches on genetic instability in cancer cells, leading to growth advantage and invasion. The researchers developed an assay to determine the efficiency of DNA repair mechanisms, which could lead to developing ways to switch off this mechanism.
CTIP2 is a transcriptional factor controlling skin development and lipid biosynthesis, potentially playing a role in skin disorders and wrinkling. Understanding its mechanisms may provide a solution to these issues.
The University of Oregon's GEMs database has doubled in size, now featuring over 100 items on green chemistry strategies across various disciplines. The database allows educators to search by concept and contribute to threaded discussions, capturing the iterative process of greening laboratory activities.
A UK study found South Asians with type 2 diabetes are more likely to develop diabetic retinopathy, leading to early vision loss. The study also revealed that South Asian patients were significantly younger when diagnosed with diabetes and developed retinopathy about seven years earlier than White Europeans.
The University of Miami's Rosenstiel School has received two grants totaling $101,000 from the Ocean Fund to support scientific research on cruise ships and graduate student scholarships. The funding will enable researchers to study climate change, coral reefs, and ocean health.
A study by UC Davis M.I.N.D. Institute found that children with ADHD exhibit variable response times during working memory tasks, even when accuracy is similar to typically developing peers. Higher levels of hyperactivity and impulsivity are associated with slower reaction times.
Human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) induces telomerase expression in both normal and malignant human cells, stimulating cell proliferation and immortalization. Additionally, a dietary supplement containing selenium, vitamin E, and beta-carotene reduces gastric cancer and overall mortality in individuals taking the supplements.
A new anti-microbial catheter has been developed to improve treatment and quality of life for community-based dialysis patients. The catheter has shown the potential to ward off a wider variety of pathogens, protecting CAPD patients from infections for up to 100 days.
Researchers have created a new 'green' hair treatment that uses an enzyme to naturally lighten hair without damaging it. The enzyme degrades melanin and combats free radicals produced by traditional hydrogen peroxide-based bleaches, making it a potential solution for reducing hair damage and environmental impact.
A team of researchers from the McGill University Health Centre has received a $4.9 million CIHR grant to study a new, four-month treatment for latent tuberculosis that could help eradicate TB worldwide. The current nine-month treatment causes many side effects, and this new regimen has already shown fewer unwanted side effects.
Researchers have developed an automatic slicing system to culture normal and cancerous pancreatic tissue from patient specimens, allowing for reproducible testing of novel treatment options, including gene therapy. This new ex-vivo model assesses cellular heterogeneity and extracellular matrix accumulation in human tumors.
A recent study suggests that college drinkers who use alcohol for developmental needs beyond socializing, such as boosting self-confidence or coping with personal problems, are more likely to continue high-risk drinking into adulthood. The research identified a subset of students most likely to persist in problem drinking and recommend...
Engineers at Vanderbilt University's Institute for Software Integrated Systems developed a system that combines information from multiple nodes to triangulate on shooter positions, improving accuracy. The system uses acoustic signals produced by high-powered rifles to track shooters in real-time.
A study published in Human Reproduction found that single embryo transfer (eSET) is more effective and cheaper than double embryo transfer. eSET reduces multiple pregnancies by half and saves patients an average of €19,889 per live birth at term.
A population-based study found that HPV16 and HPV18 genotypes were present in the majority of invasive cervical cancers in New Mexico. The mean age of women diagnosed with HPV16- or HPV18-positive cancer was 5 years younger than that of women diagnosed with other HPV types, suggesting implications for future cancer screening.
Ice storms cause significant damage to pecan trees, particularly those less than 15 feet tall, with cleanup costs varying greatly depending on tree size and labor supervision. Researchers provide information on effective cleanup procedures and economic impact of ice storms on pecan production.
Researchers found that long-term L-carnitine supplementation prevented the development of liver cancer in rats, reversing abnormal liver enzymes and histology. This study suggests carnitine may be used to prevent or slow liver cancer progression.
Research by Oregon State University shows that older adults who engage in less physical activity are more likely to report having difficulty walking due to increased health worry. Resolving health concern issues earlier in life may be key to avoiding walking difficulties, according to lead author Bradley Cardinal.
Researchers from PNNL found that nitrogen-doped anatase titanium dioxide can split water using visible light, while rutile cannot. This discovery could lead to more efficient hydrogen fuel production and environmental cleanup methods.
Men with high long chain omega-3 fatty acid intake had a reduced risk of aggressive prostate cancer by 63%, while those with low intake and the COX-2 variant saw a five-fold increased risk. Omega-3 fatty acids also appeared to counteract the increased risk associated with the COX-2 variant.
A three-year study found that wild bees visit more flowers per minute and deposit more pollen than honey bees, making them potential blueberry pollinators. Growers can support natural bee populations by providing nesting materials, such as bamboo or reeds.
Researchers found that 3-year-olds and 8-year-olds don't plan for the future or live in the present, instead calling up past memories as needed. This challenges the long-held belief that children's brains operate similarly to those of adults.
A new test for metastasis could help doctors precisely identify which patients should receive aggressive therapy, sparing those at low risk from unnecessary treatment. The test detects the presence of a tumor microenvironment that predicts breast cancer spread.
Two graduate students, Adam Roddy and Anna Maria Stewart, receive AIBS Emerging Public Policy Leadership Award for their contributions to science and public policy. The award includes a certificate, membership, publications, and opportunities to meet with policymakers.
The use of electronic health records is expected to increase exponentially, but legal uncertainty about ownership presents a major obstacle. A commentary in the Journal of the American Medical Association suggests that clear laws and regulations are needed to protect patients' interests and facilitate the best use of medical information.
The study found that vegetation cover has increased over the past 65 years, leading to a decrease in bare sandstone habitat critical for broad-headed snakes. Regular controlled burns could open up the forest canopy and prevent tree seedling establishment, benefiting the endangered species.
Researchers found evidence of abundant oxygen in ancient ocean and atmosphere, dating back 3.46 billion years. The discovery suggests early life forms like cyanobacteria produced oxygen 3.46 billion years ago.
Researchers discovered that GDNF delivery to specific brain areas can cause unwanted weight loss in Parkinson patients. The finding suggests that gene therapy techniques in the brain potentially could control obesity and highlights the importance of placing therapy in the correct region.
A randomized controlled trial found that a 3-drug chemotherapy combination of docetaxel, cisplatin, and 5-fluorouracil (TPF) increased organ preservation rates in patients with locally advanced larynx cancer. Compared to the single-agent TPF, the addition of docetaxel improved larynx function and overall response rates.
A study found that black women are 3 times more likely to develop aggressive triple negative breast tumours compared to non-black women. The study also revealed that the prevalence of these tumours is not limited to pre-menopausal black women, but is also common in those diagnosed before or after age 50 and across all body mass indexes.
Researchers developed a design for reliability (DFR) approach to minimize warranty costs by proactively identifying potential hardware and software failures. This approach can be implemented in the early development phase, reducing costly repairs and improving product quality.
A collaborative care intervention improved pain-related disability and intensity in patients with chronic noncancer pain compared to usual care. The program, which included patient and clinician education and symptom monitoring, showed significant improvements in depression and functional status.
A novel system enables high energy physicists at CERN to integrate their existing pool of distributed computers with dynamic resources in science clouds. The integration uses the Nimbus Context Broker and CernVM technology, allowing researchers to dynamically deploy virtual machines on remote resources.
A new fossil discovery at the Homer Site in Montana has revealed that Triceratops, a three-horned dinosaur, were likely social animals that congregated in small herds. The find indicates that juvenile Triceratops lived and traveled together, suggesting a unique behavior among ceratopsid relatives.
A federal program has improved metropolitan public health agencies' ability to rapidly dispense life-saving medications in the event of a large-scale bioterror attack or naturally occurring infectious disease outbreak. The Cities Readiness Initiative has helped increase staff training, strengthened partnerships with first-responder age...
A study found that visually examining newborns for jaundice is an unreliable method of predicting the risk of hyperbilirubinemia, a potentially life-threatening condition. Only infants with no visible jaundice can confidently have a very low risk.
Snail shells have increased in size by 22.6% over the past century, impacting the marine ecosystem, as warmer waters and reduced predatory fish allow snails to grow larger. The study suggests that these changes could affect the entire intertidal food chain.
A new study found no detrimental effect of cell phones on academic performance among 12-year-olds. Video games were also linked to lower grade point averages but improved math and visual-spatial skills.
Engineered sensors mimic the hair structures of blind cavefish, detecting underwater objects and navigation. The researchers found that adding a gel-like capsule improved sensitivity and detection range.
Researchers at Florida State University have identified a mutated gene in zebrafish that determines the development of photoreceptors, which could provide new insight into inherited retinal diseases in humans. The study, published in PNAS, reveals the genetic switch responsible for cells developing as rods or cones.