A study published in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine found that campus-community interventions were successful in reducing college drinking. The Safer California Universities study showed significant declines in intoxication rates, with students from intervention universities being 6-15% less likely to drink to intoxication...
A team of researchers proposes a new way to measure urban exceptionality, suggesting that traditional per-capita measures are flawed. They found that cities tend to be persistent in their performance, with features like wealth and safety pairing up, and highly exceptional cities being smaller and more monocultural.
Researchers reconstruct carbon dioxide levels during the Middle Eocene Climatic Optimum, a 400,000-year period of extreme global warming. They found that atmospheric carbon dioxide levels doubled, leading to temperature increases of 4-6 degrees Celsius.
A study in mice reveals that loss of the protein MeCP2 in inhibitory nerve cells reproduces nearly all features of Rett syndrome, a devastating neurological disorder. The lack of MeCP2 impairs communication between neurons, leading to cognitive deficits, breathing difficulties, and repetitive behaviors.
The Merck Childhood Asthma Network is investing $4 million in four high-risk cities to manage childhood asthma through evidence-based science, case management, and asthma trigger removal plans. Programs aim to reduce missed school days, symptom days, and improve access to quality healthcare.
Research in Tanzania found a significant association between fumonisin exposure and stunting/underweight in infants, highlighting the need for food screening. The WHO maximum tolerable daily intake is often exceeded, especially with maize-based complementary foods.
Chronic disease death rates are increasing in developing countries, with 23 million deaths annually. A new framework proposes national surveillance strategies to monitor trends and improve actions on chronic diseases.
A novel program in Livingston County, NY, uses EMS technicians to identify and address unmet needs of elderly residents, resulting in high patient satisfaction rates. The program's success highlights the potential of innovative collaboration between healthcare providers and social services to improve quality of life for seniors.
Researchers have developed 140 hemlock hybrids that are tolerant to the invasive hemlock woolly adelgid (HWA), a devastating insect affecting eastern US forests. The most tolerant species is T. chinensis and its hybrids, which show good vigor and shape, providing a potential solution for saving US natural ecosystems.
Researchers at Iowa State University found that single-cropping sorghum grass yields more ethanol than double-cropping systems. The study suggests using sorghum as a sole crop could meet up to 25% of the US energy needs, surpassing corn-based fuels.
A Finnish study found that infant feeding with a highly hydrolyzed casein-based formula reduced the emergence of diabetes-predictive autoantibodies by about 50% among high-risk children. The study suggests that early dietary intervention can substantially reduce the initiation of the disease process leading to Type 1 diabetes.
Researchers have developed a device that uses sound waves to detect bacteria in water, potentially speeding up the process by 15% compared to existing methods. The device broadcasts ultrasound waves into the liquid, exerting pressure on bacteria that pushes them into a collection pocket for identification.
A team of researchers led by Michigan State University will investigate the effects of increasing doses of mercury on yellow perch. The study aims to shed light on the negative repercussions of low-level pollutants on fish populations.
A citywide smoking ban has been shown to significantly decrease the prevalence of maternal smoking and pre-term births. In a study comparing Pueblo and El Paso County in Colorado, researchers found a 23% decrease in preterm births and a 37% decrease in maternal smoking after the ban took effect.
A circuit in the brain regulating serotonin-receptor signaling may explain anti-diabetic actions independent of body weight and feeding. Reactivating this receptor in specific neurons protects mice from insulin resistance and metabolic problems.
Dr Guillaume Lessene has been awarded the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute's inaugural de Burgh Fellowship to translate research findings into new cancer treatments. The $AUD150,000 fellowship supports his work on developing inhibitors for Bcl-2 proteins and other targets, with the goal of treating various types of cancer.
The NCD Alliance warns that ignoring chronic diseases will lead to a future where healthy people are in the minority, while unhealthy children die before their parents. The alliance calls for effective actions on diet, physical activity, risks, and determinants related to non-communicable diseases.
A new approach called Desktop Medicine involves clinicians gathering and analyzing risk factor information to prevent disease onset. This model has substantial implications for educating, training, and practicing medicine, including incorporating bedside and desktop medicine in office visits.
The 2010 AAAS Kavli Science Journalism Awards recognized journalists who reported on environmental issues, memory, and science. Charles Duhigg won the large-newspaper award for his toxic waters series, while Hillary Rosner took home the small-newspaper award for her piece on the endangered razorback sucker.
Experiments with artificial stomach suggest that taking Sprite with an oral anticancer drug improves its absorption and effectiveness. The study found that the soft drink helps control stomach acidity, allowing for better absorption of the drug.
Researchers found similarities between wolf-elk interactions in Yellowstone National Park and shark-dugong interactions in Shark Bay, Australia. These interactions control prey populations and affect their behavior, with ripple impacts on the ecosystem.
Research by University of Sheffield finds that deaf adults can react more quickly to objects at the edge of their visual field than hearing people. Children born deaf initially have slower reaction times, but improve as they age and develop better-than-normal peripheral vision by adulthood.
Researchers at NIST used a neutron beam to analyze the compound PZT, revealing its crystal structure and how it works. They found that PZT's behavior changes gradually rather than sharply, and may lead to designing better piezoelectric materials.
Researchers found that an early part of the brain's visual system rewires itself through pattern training, independent of higher-order conscious processing. This discovery could improve training programs for detecting subtle patterns, such as in medical imaging or air traffic control.
Researchers use a tightly focused, low-power laser beam to optically scan the area and identify target locations by minute changes in scattered light. This technique solves the 'needle in a haystack' problem of nanoscale microscopy, finding nanoscale objects with precision.
New studies from researchers at the University of Cincinnati show that certain measurement tools for assessing non-clinical work intensity can also be used to determine physician work intensity in clinical settings. This could lead to improved health care delivery, increased efficiency, and higher quality of care.
A multi-tiered effort to stem binge drinking at Indiana University reduced average drinks consumed and percentage of students engaging in binge drinking. The study's results indicate an ecologically guided approach is critical for success, but highlight the need for further research.
A Tel Aviv University scientist has developed a small, portable sensor that can detect multiple kinds of explosives with unprecedented reliability and efficiency. The sensor, which uses nanotechnology advances, is more sensitive and reliable than any sniffer dog and can detect explosives at a distance.
Researchers at the University of Rochester Medical Center are using mathematical modeling to study potentially deadly flu viruses and develop new vaccines and therapies. The five-year contract aims to enhance human immune responses and identify areas for investigation into treatments for lethal viruses.
A growing burden of chronic disease threatens low-income and middle-income countries; weak national health systems hinder effective interventions. Strengthening health systems can improve responses to chronic diseases, benefiting other health services as well.
Researchers found that removing MECP2 from GABA-producing neurons reduces neurotransmitter production by 30%, reproducing Rett symptoms. The study suggests a possible pathway to understanding neuropsychiatric disorders and potential therapeutic intervention.
Scientists have developed a new fuel-cell catalyst with a palladium core that protects precious platinum and enhances its reactivity. The new catalyst maintains high levels of activity even after 100,000 cycles of testing, compared to conventional catalysts that lose nearly 70% of their reactivity.
The NSF-funded ADVANCE Program aims to increase women's representation in STEM at the University of Maryland. The program will implement interconnected strategies to transform academic environments and promote the professional growth of all women faculty members.
Experts find that adopting a healthy diet in the UK could lead to significant improvements in health outcomes, but doing so in poorer countries like Brazil may have devastating economic consequences. Reducing saturated fat consumption in these countries could result in job losses and disruption to agriculture and trade.
A new study of married couples in the US found that those who score well on a simple test of numeracy ability accumulate more wealth by middle age. Couples where both spouses answered three numeracy-related questions correctly averaged $1.7 million in household wealth, compared to $200,000 for those with poor numeracy skills.
Scientists have discovered how ivermectin kills parasitic worms that cause river blindness and elephantiasis, enabling the development of new treatment avenues. The drug works by blocking parasite secretions, allowing the host's immune system to attack and kill the parasites.
Scientists from the University of Maryland's EPOXI mission have discovered that dry ice is the 'jet' fuel for comets, including Hartley 2. The discovery reveals that solar heating of subsurface frozen carbon dioxide is powering the comet's jets, which are rich in CO2 gas and particles of dust and ice.
The Georgia Institute of Technology is driving innovation in high-performance computing with research initiatives focused on sustainability, reliability, and massive data computation. The Keeneland project, led by Jeffrey Vetter, aims to deploy a heterogeneous computing system for energy-efficient performance.
College students experience a gradual decrease in moderate and vigorous physical activity as they progress through their studies, resulting in increased body mass index and weight. The transition period can lead to weight gain, emphasizing the importance of colleges providing programs and choices to support healthy lifestyle changes.
Global neglect of chronic diseases is a pressing issue, with low-cost solutions available for prevention. The authors recommend reframing the debate to emphasize societal determinants and mobilizing resources through cooperative approaches.
A study by NC State University found that nearly two-thirds of cancer news articles contain uncertain terms, which can exacerbate public uncertainty. The researchers developed a scheme to identify and quantify uncertain terms in online texts.
Researchers found that strong genetic influences determine a person's loyalty and adaptability within a group, with family ties having less impact. Ethnicity and religion are also influential factors.
Researchers at Texas A&M AgriLife Research are developing wireless sensing networks to monitor field conditions in rice and cotton production. The systems use sensors to track temperature, soil moisture, and fiber quality, enabling farmers to make data-driven decisions. This technology has the potential to improve crop management, incr...
A new study suggests that mid-life cholesterol levels may not be linked to the development of Alzheimer's disease, but large decreases in cholesterol in old age could be a better predictor. After 32 years, women with the greatest decline in cholesterol were more than twice as likely to develop dementia.
A study published in JNCI Journal of the National Cancer Institute found that men taking androgen deprivation therapy for prostate cancer have a 30-40% increased risk of colorectal cancer. The longer treatment duration, the greater the risk.
Researchers at Max Planck Institute develop new method to measure synaptic vesicle priming, revealing SNAPs play crucial role in recycling SNARE complexes. Disruption of this process can lead to communication breakdown and vital processes like sight or sound detection being impaired.
Researchers discovered a key mutation in the DNA methyltransferase 3A gene that affects AML treatment prognosis, leading to significantly shorter survival times for patients with the mutation. The study's findings suggest that treating patients with this mutation aggressively may improve their outcomes.
Researchers found that students who viewed images of beer cans in university colors believed drinking beer was less dangerous. The study suggests that marketing strategies can alter drinkers' perceptions of alcohol's potential risks at an unconscious level.
The Halpin Foundation-ASN Research Grant has enabled researchers to study the PCP pathway's role in regulating podocyte architecture and nephrin organization. This finding establishes a mechanism for the regulation of foot processes in membranous nephropathy.
A team led by University of Minnesota physicists has discovered a new type of magnetic wave involving oxygen atoms, which could improve superconducting electric wires used in national electrical grids. The breakthrough sheds new light on the phenomenon of high-temperature superconductivity in complex copper-oxides.
A new risk factor for developing breast cancer has been identified as a DNA methylation modification to the BRCA1 gene, which inactivates its protective function. This epimutation is present in the blood of some women with breast cancer and appears not to be inherited.
Researchers at Brown University have discovered a couple of prime suspect genes, MqsR and MqsA, that control the formation of biofilms by regulating persister cell growth. The investigation provides a new avenue for developing novel sets of antibiotics targeting these proteins.
A new indicator, TLR9 receptor, has been found to mark rapidly progressing idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, potentially leading to new treatments. Researchers identified the receptor in patients' lungs and showed its role in fibrotic tissue growth using human cells and mice.
The NEWMEDS collaboration has pooled resources to create the single largest database of clinical trial data ever amassed in psychiatric research. The database combines data from 23,401 anonymized patients from 67 trials on 11 compounds in over 25 countries.
Researchers trap and observe intermediate stage of DNA repair protein Al McBiotically theft, a process that regulates health conditions such as obesity, cancer, and diabetes. The study provides new insights into how proteins chemically alter biological molecules via oxidative demethylation.
Researchers found that up to 53 out of 128 studied societies believe in the principle of multiple paternity. Women benefit from this system as secondary fathers provide gifts and support, increasing child survival rates. Men also gain by formalizing alliances through shared wives, strengthening family bonds.
The Hastings Center researchers and coauthors examine the challenges of providing health services to detainees in drug detention centers. They argue that leaders of health-related organizations should assess whether their programs promote health or exacerbate conditions.
The Seattle Cancer Consortium Breast SPORE initiative aims to improve breast cancer prevention, detection, and treatment through four scientific projects. These projects focus on developing targeted therapies for drug-resistant tumors, with the goal of providing unique treatment options that are developed from cutting-edge science.
The University of Arizona is receiving $2.9 million to improve the safety and post-harvest quality of field-grown organic leafy greens. Researchers will test edible films, compost teas, and irrigation water for bacterial contamination, aiming to provide safer products for consumers while increasing profitability for growers.
A comprehensive review of 70 research articles finds that prescribed bed rest may have negative effects on pregnant women's physical and emotional health. The study suggests that hospital stays deny women the opportunity to rest in a comfortable environment, potentially leading to depression and post-traumatic shock disorder.