Scientists analyzed over 300 papers to establish relationships between buffer design features and pollutant removal efficacy. The study found that buffers with trees have higher nitrogen and phosphorus removal efficacy than those with grasses or mixtures of grasses and trees.
Canadian Medical Association Journal urges airlines to prioritize human passenger safety over accommodating small pets in airplane cabins. The Canadian Transportation Agency considers requiring airlines to safeguard passengers with pet allergies, forcing a reevaluation of airline policies.
Fetal surgery continues to evolve with advancements in prenatal diagnosis and surgical techniques. Experts at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia describe innovative procedures for treating rare defects, including lung masses, sacrococcygeal teratomas, and spina bifida.
A software program created by Andrew Cohen analyzes time-lapse images to identify changes in cell behaviors, predicting the types of specialized cells a stem cell will produce. The software is 87% accurate in determining specific 'offspring' a stem cell will ultimately produce, and 99% accurate in predicting when self-renewal will end ...
A recent study at Johns Hopkins Children's Center found that a high-fat ketogenic diet is both effective and safe for controlling seizures in the long term. The diet, which consists of high-fat foods and very few carbohydrates, has been shown to reduce seizure frequency by nearly 80% in patients treated for a minimum of 16 months.
A Phase 2 trial showed that daclizumab combined with interferon beta reduced MS lesion formation by 72 percent compared to interferon beta alone. The treatment also increased a subset of natural killer cells, associated with a decrease in disease activity.
Research published in Journal of Thoracic Oncology investigates the effectiveness of surgery as a standalone treatment for stage I small cell lung cancer. The study found three- and five-year survival rates of 58.1% and 50.3%, respectively, for patients who underwent lobectomies without radiotherapy.
The Ames Laboratory team will use the IBM Blue Gene supercomputer to model aerosol formation and simulate the bulk properties of water. The research aims to better understand how clouds form and impact global climate change, with potential applications in green chemistry and decontamination of water in developing nations.
Tropical Cyclone Rene brought maximum sustained winds near 100mph, causing power outages and heavy rainfall to Nuku'alofa. The storm is now moving over cooler waters, leading to its expected dissipation in the next couple of days.
At high altitudes, athletes in skill sports such as figure skating and ski jumping must retool highly technical moves to accommodate reduced air resistance. In contrast, endurance sports like cross-country skiing benefit from acclimatization periods ranging from three to two weeks.
A University of Melbourne study reveals a genetic link between mammographic density and breast cancer, identifying two variants associated with increased risk. The findings confirm the long-suspected connection between higher mammographic density and breast cancer.
Scientists studying fruit flies have discovered a critical step in fly vision that is also linked to human retinal dystrophies, which cause visual impairments or blindness. The study's findings suggest that using flies as a model organism can lead to the development of new therapies for treating human retinal degeneration.
Ron O'Dor will talk about the international Ocean Tracking Network's ambitious plans and how new tracking technologies can help manage sustainable fisheries. The Canadian initiative has committed $45 million to this global project.
Researchers at Northwestern University and Oxford University have developed a new method to understand surface layers of atoms, critical for material properties. The bond-valence-sum method has shown how to arrange atoms on surfaces, enabling predictions of material behavior.
A Cochrane review found that flexible working arrangements with employee control can positively impact health outcomes such as blood pressure and sleep patterns. The study also highlighted the need for further research on how different types of workers experience the effects of flexible working.
A new report by the Ecological Society of America highlights the need to address potential effects of land-use choices on ecosystems. Native perennial crops, such as switchgrass, are recommended as an inexpensive feedstock option that improves soil quality and provides habitat for native species.
The 16th South Pacific cyclone has formed and is strengthening, with maximum sustained winds near 52 mph and a projected path towards Port Louis and Reunion Island. Residents are advised to monitor local forecasts and prepare for potential impacts.
Researchers found that value-based insurance design (VBID) can increase benefits from healthcare without increasing costs. By waiving consumer payments for highly effective treatments and raising them for less effective ones, VBID could provide a substantial improvement in health outcomes and reduce the number of uninsured individuals.
A new study found that women overwhelmingly choose to read true stories about serial killings and random murders, whereas men are more likely to choose books about war or gang violence. Women prefer true crime stories over violent nonfiction because they provide information that could help them avoid potential attackers.
A University of Pennsylvania-led study found that mindfulness training improved mood and working memory in high-stress US Marines. The more time participants spent practicing daily mindfulness exercises, the better their mood and working memory became.
A Johns Hopkins researcher warns that medical safety checklists are no magic wand and require a culture change to be effective. Checklists can work in certain situations, such as central-line infection prevention, but over-reliance on them can lead to distractions and errors.
Researchers at Children's Hospital will engineer human cells into new tissues to treat blood diseases, cancer, and other disorders. Two NIH grants focus on developing embryonic stem cells for platelet supplies and induced pluripotent stem cells for custom-tissue production.
May R. Berenbaum, a renowned entomologist, has been awarded the AAAS Public Understanding of Science and Technology Award for her extraordinary ability to integrate scientific discovery with public outreach. Her work has had a significant impact on fields such as chemical ecology, agriculture, and environmental conservation.
A systematic review found that neonatal and infant circumcision is relatively safe, with minor adverse events common but severe complications rare. The risk of complications increases with inexperienced providers or inadequate equipment, highlighting the need for improved training and safety measures.
Researchers found a new genetic risk factor, TMEM106B, associated with frontotemporal lobar degeneration, a subtype of early-onset dementia. The study suggests that alterations in this protein may contribute to the development of FTLD.
Scientists at the University of Edinburgh have created a low-cost, fast, and accurate DNA test that can identify a person's risk of developing certain inherited diseases. The technology uses chemical analysis and can analyze DNA in a saliva sample, potentially leading to improved personal diagnosis and prompt treatment.
Diola Bagayoko, a Southern University professor, received the 2009 AAAS Lifetime Mentor Award for increasing African-American Ph.D. degrees in physics and chemistry. He has mentored 21 undergraduate students to receive Ph.D.s in these fields through his Timbuktu Academy.
A study by the American Academy of Sleep Medicine found that sleepiness at the wheel and poor sleep quality significantly increase the risk of motor vehicle accidents in adolescents. The study suggests that education programs targeting improving sleep habits are essential for reducing this risk.
A new study published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute found that HPV vaccination benefits decline with age and frequent screening for women over 41 is likely to be low. The study suggests that newly detected HPV infections do not progress to cervical intraepithelial neoplasia grade 2 or worse, regardless of age.
Researchers at Georgetown University Medical Center discover a compound found in feverfew may block pro-survival signals in breast cancer cells resistant to tamoxifen. This finding provides insight into the biological roots of resistance and tests a novel way to overcome it.
Researchers mapped chicken retinas, discovering a complex pattern of color receptors that maximizes their ability to see colors. This superior vision may help birds find mates and feed on colorful fruit, and could lead to insights into treating human genetic disorders.
New analyses confirm that combination hormone therapy increases the risk of heart disease in healthy postmenopausal women, particularly those who begin therapy within 10 years of menopause. The risk is more pronounced among women who start therapy 10 years or more after menopause.
In this study, researchers discovered autoantibodies that target the natural protein Trib2 in narcolepsy patients with cataplexy, indicating that narcolepsy may be an autoimmune disorder. Additionally, a team of researchers identified a potential therapeutic target for neuroblastoma by studying human neuroblastoma cells and mice.
A study of 56 patients who underwent revisional bariatric surgery found a higher risk of complications compared to the initial procedure. Patients experienced significant weight loss and resolution of nutritional complications, but also faced serious issues like internal leakage and pneumonia.
Helene Muller-Landau's tolerance-fecundity model reveals why different species make strikingly different reproductive choices. The model suggests that varying levels of stress favor different strategies.
A study found that racial and ethnic disparities exist in surgical care, with minority patients facing lower volumes of procedures at higher-quality facilities. White patients were more frequently treated by high-volume surgeons and at high-volume facilities than their minority counterparts.
Dr. Nancy Olivieri, a professor at the University of Toronto, was honored with the 2009 AAAS Scientific Freedom and Responsibility Award for her courage in defending patient safety and research integrity. She faced severe consequences after reporting potential life-threatening side effects of a medication during a clinical trial.
Researchers achieve temperature of about 4 trillion degrees Celsius, hotter than the center of the Sun, creating a freely flowing liquid composed of quarks and gluons. This 'quark-gluon plasma' is similar to the substance that filled the universe after its birth 13.7 billion years ago.
Researchers found that patients who walked at least two bouts of 1500 steps each on three days a week reported significantly less arthritis pain and improved physical function. Glucosamine sulphate supplementation also showed benefits, with both groups achieving significant improvement in symptoms.
Researchers found that La Vanguardia newspaper devoted more headlines to forest fires and droughts than floods, despite floods being more frequent and damaging. The study created a database of natural hazards allowing users to search for meteorological phenomena.
Researchers found that pipe and cigar smoking is associated with decrements in lung function consistent with obstructive lung disease. HRT use also increases the risk of coronary heart disease, even after six years.
Researchers at UT Southwestern Medical Center discovered that a simple urine test for four proteins might be able to detect early kidney disease in people with lupus. The findings suggest the tests could pinpoint kidney disease better than existing tests, potentially leading to earlier diagnosis and treatment.
UCSF researchers identified a protein called B1N1 that helps the heart contract. This discovery sheds light on how individual heart cells organize to pump blood through the body.
The zone-plate array optical detection system can analyze nearly 200,000 droplets per second and is scalable and reusable. This technology integrates high performance optics with microfluidics to enhance lab-on-a-chip devices, making them more practical for disease detection and environmental sensing.
The AAAS/Subaru Science Books & Film (SB&F) competition recognizes authors who convey the excitement of science, fostering scientific literacy in readers of all ages. The 2009 winners included books on photosynthesis, microbes, and a real-life amphibian scientist.
Researchers identified a molecular repair pathway that involves white blood cells called macrophages responding to tissue injury by producing Wnt7b, leading to tissue regeneration and repair in injured kidneys. The study suggests the pathway may be important for tissue repair in other organs.
Researchers report the first hints of profound symmetry transformations in quarks and gluons produced in RHIC's most energetic collisions. The new results suggest that 'bubbles' formed within this hot soup may internally disobey mirror symmetry, a fundamental rule governing interactions of quarks and gluons.
A preliminary study suggests that botulinum toxin type A injections can reduce migraine frequency in patients with crushing and ocular headaches, but not those with exploding headaches. The treatment reduced migraine frequency from an average of 6.8 to 0.7 days per month.
A study published in Sexually Transmitted Infections found that badly fitting condoms can lead to reduced sexual pleasure for both partners. Researchers surveyed 436 men who reported using poorly fitting condoms, finding a significant link between poor fit and increased rates of breakage, slippage, and penile irritation.
A new anode material made from titanium Nanonets coated with silicon particles demonstrates higher speed, capacity and longevity. The material shows a charge/re-charge rate five to 10 times greater than typical Lithium-ion anode materials.
A new study identifies autoantibodies targeting Trib2 protein in narcolepsy patients with cataplexy, supporting the theory that narcolepsy is an autoimmune disorder. Elevated levels of these antibodies were found in narcolepsy patients, furthering research on the underlying causes of the condition.
Katepalli R. Sreenivasan, immediate past director of the International Centre for Theoretical Physics, has been recognized by AAAS for his role in promoting cutting-edge science globally. He was awarded the 2009 AAAS International Scientific Cooperation Award for mentoring students and young scholars from developing countries.
Researchers discovered diverse corals harboring unusual, thermally tolerant algae species in the Andaman Sea. These findings suggest some coral reefs may persist despite future global warming.
Researchers at Vanderbilt and Yale universities have successfully transplanted most of the mosquito's 'nose' into frog eggs and fruit flies. The goal is to develop novel ways to inhibit the spread of malaria by targeting specific olfactory receptors.
Researchers have identified NT-3 and its binding molecule TrkC as potential therapeutic targets for treating neuroblastoma. The study found that blocking the interaction between NT-3 and TrkC inhibited tumor growth and metastasis in animal models.
A new study finds that induced pluripotent stem cells differentiate less efficiently and faithfully than embryonic stem cells, which are considered the 'gold standard' for all pluripotent stem cells. Despite their limitations, induced stem cells can still be used for certain applications, such as testing potential new drugs.
Researchers developed peptide vaccines that stimulate T cells to attack cancer cells in mice, achieving 100% tumor-free survival for at least 60 days. The successful vaccines stimulated T cells recognizing both the peptide vaccine and natural antigens, producing a large population of activated T cells.
The development of guidelines for better reporting of health research is crucial for understanding study importance and accuracy. The authors, key developers of several important guidelines, have created a substantial new resource to promote better reporting.
A Purdue University study found that inserting a human protein important in cancer development into plants revived dying plants, showing an evolutionary link between the two species. The discovery could advance understanding of this class of proteins and offer new options for studying their function in humans.
Researchers at The Ottawa Hospital Research Institute have discovered that stem cells intentionally break and repair their own DNA as a mechanism of activating genes that promote tissue development. This novel process, crucial for muscle tissue development, may also be important for the development of most other tissues.