W. Jason Niedermeyer, a high school biology teacher in Oregon, received the 2010 Evolution Education Award for his innovative approaches to teaching evolution. His curriculum focuses on inquiry-based learning and utilizes hands-on labs, class discussions, and student activities to promote accurate understanding of biological evolution.
Researchers at Fox Chase Cancer Center found that precisely targeted radiation therapy is a safe and effective treatment for paranasal sinus cancer, controlling the disease with fewer serious side effects. The study used intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) to minimize damage to surrounding healthy tissues.
Eliminating malaria will cost more than controlling the disease, with only moderate cost savings expected in one country. The authors suggest a paradigm shift in international funding is needed to support elimination efforts.
Countries seeking to eliminate malaria must adopt a new approach, prioritizing proactive case detection, treatment with effective drugs like primaquine, and preventive measures. Effective elimination strategies are needed despite operational challenges and high costs.
The Lancet Series on Malaria Elimination concludes that a vaccine is crucial for successful elimination, but current efforts are hindered by high transmission rates, poor health systems, and lack of leadership. The series highlights the need for balance, humility, and rigorous analysis to pursue malaria elimination.
Researchers at Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis are developing an interactive computer simulation framework to improve watershed management practices. The new $410,000 grant will enable community members to participate in restoring ecological balance and make informed decisions about water management alternatives.
Researchers have found significant regional variations in the western Antarctic ice sheet due to El Nino fluctuations, affecting global sea levels. The study suggests that precipitation patterns play a crucial role in mass balance changes, with the Antarctic Peninsula experiencing increased snowfall during La Nina years.
Countries with low risk and stable health systems have higher feasibility for malaria elimination. Latin America is in the best position to achieve this, while sub-Saharan African countries face substantial difficulties due to political instability, weak health systems, and high transmission rates.
The 'malaria map' has shrunk by over 150 years, with 32 countries nearing elimination and many more in controlled low-endemic states. The fight against malaria involves two main parasite species, <i>Plasmodium falciparum</i> and <i>Plasmodium vivax</i>, highlighting the need for improved diagnostic tests and radical treatment options.
A new study links the rise of early animals to a spike in ancient marine phosphorus concentrations during the mid-Neoproterozoic period. High phosphorus levels facilitated an oxygen-rich ocean-atmosphere system, paving the way for animal diversification and ecological evolution.
New experiments confirm dragonflies grow bigger with more oxygen, but cockroaches don't. Fossilized insects may serve as proxies for ancient oxygen levels.
The Lancet authors emphasize the need for a three-part strategy to achieve malaria eradication, including aggressive control in high-risk areas, elimination from the margins inward, and research and development. They also highlight the importance of strengthening guidance and support for countries aiming to eliminate malaria.
Discus fish exhibit unusual parental care by secreting a nutrient-rich mucus that their young feed on. After three weeks, the parents stop providing food and let the fry fend for themselves.
Researchers at Fox Chase Cancer Center found that hypofractionated radiation therapy does not increase urinary or gastrointestinal problems. This new treatment approach delivers a higher total dose of radiation in fewer sessions, without compromising quality of life.
A special issue of Ecopsychology explores how women's interactions with nature affect their sense of self, body image, and environmental drive. Women who spend time in natural settings tend to have better body images and distance themselves from societal beauty standards.
A Saint Louis University study found that curcumin eliminated the effects of leptin on activating hepatic stellate cells, which short-circuited the development of liver damage. The researchers discovered a potential therapy for treating and preventing liver fibrosis associated with non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH).
The National Resource for Network Biology (NRNB) center will provide researchers with access to advanced tools to study human systems and diseases. The center aims to develop sophisticated models of how human systems function or fail, ultimately leading to new treatments and therapies.
Researchers used mathematical models and maps to estimate malaria elimination feasibility in countries with the deadliest form of the disease. The data suggest that Plasmodium falciparum malaria could be eliminated in most areas in 10-15 years if transmission is reduced by 90%.
A Scripps Research team has successfully imaged the formation of cells' protein factories using a novel technique. The breakthrough could lead to new antibiotic development and treatments for diseases tied to ribosome errors. The study offers insights into cellular processes and may uncover new targets for therapeutic interventions.
The study reveals how Dracula orchids masquerade as mushrooms to lure flies, while goblin spiders, small and secretive, are redefined in their taxonomy. New species discoveries provide insights into pollination and conservation efforts.
Women with dense breasts and no lobular involution are at a higher risk for developing breast cancer. A study of 2666 women found that mammographic breast density and extent of lobular involution are independent risk factors for breast cancer.
The Air Force Office of Scientific Research has awarded approximately $16.5 million in grants to 43 scientists and engineers who submitted winning research proposals through the Young Investigator Research Program. The selected recipients will conduct basic research in various areas of science and engineering.
A recent study found that more than half of surrogate decision makers prefer to have full authority over the choice of life-support for incapacitated patients. However, a significant portion want to share or cede power to physicians. The extent of control varies based on trust in the physician overseeing care.
Cancer Discovery is a new peer-reviewed journal from the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR), featuring game-changing research and review articles. The journal combines expertise from founding Editors-in-Chief Lewis C. Cantley and José Baselga, with executive editor Mark W. Landis.
Researchers at Oregon State University have developed a high-performance metal-insulator-metal diode, solving decades-old material science challenges. The discovery has the potential to transform electronic products, enabling faster speeds and lower costs.
Researchers at Henry Ford Hospital found stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT) to be an effective treatment option for inoperable pancreatic cancer patients, slowing disease progression by almost six months. SBRT provides a highly targeted cancer radiation therapy with minimal side effects.
Researchers have identified a new agouti family gene that regulates pigmentation and body weight in fish. The protein enables fish to dramatically change color to match their environment, a phenomenon also observed in mammals such as the arctic hare.
Researchers at The Wistar Institute found that the three-dimensional structure of a genome exposes genes to regulation and chromosomal crosstalk. This structure positions groups of related genes near each other, allowing for efficient operation of genetic processes.
A fungal infection caused by Fusarium solani has been found to be a major contributor to the decline of Atlantic sea turtles. The fungus can infect turtle eggs, causing high hatching failure rates and driving population numbers down.
Researchers study Chandeleur Islands' geological history via peat layers beneath the marshes, predicting their potential disappearance in decades due to sea level rise and local subsidence. On Grand Isle, a project documents beach changes since 2008, including effects of hurricanes and BP oil clean-up operations.
A new study by the University of Leicester found that parents' efforts are more important for a child's educational attainment than the school's effort or the child's own effort. The researchers also discovered that socio-economic background affects not only a child's education but also the school's effort.
Scientists at Max Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine identified a key transcription factor, Grhl2, that regulates the expression of cell junctional molecules E-cadherin and claudin 4. This discovery sheds light on the development of diseases such as spina bifida and potentially impacts kidney function.
The University of Houston is developing new technologies for the alternative energy industry with a $1.2 million grant from the Office of Naval Research. Researchers will focus on improving thin-film solar cell efficiency and developing nanosensors for wind turbine blades to monitor structural health.
The OHSU Doernbecher team is conducting a second phase of a landmark clinical trial to assess the safety and preliminary effectiveness of purified human neural stem cells as a potential treatment for infantile or late-infantile neuronal ceroid lipofuscinosis, a rare and currently fatal neurodegenerative disorder. The trial aims to eval...
A team of scientists will investigate how spaceflight affects the immune system, particularly in response to viruses like RSV, which can cause severe respiratory illness. The study aims to protect astronauts and vulnerable populations on Earth from increased infection susceptibility.
Human African Trypanosomiasis, also known as sleeping sickness, affects millions in Africa and South America. Researchers at the University of Strathclyde are developing a new oral treatment to tackle the disease.
Women with anorexia nervosa more likely to experience unplanned pregnancies and induced abortions due to misconceptions about their fertility. Healthcare providers must be aware of this increased risk and provide proper care, including prenatal screening for eating disorders.