Astronomer Joel Kastner finds evidence that a variable star in the Pisces constellation is a one billion-year-old red giant that has swallowed a companion star, forming an orbiting disk that may contain second-generation planets. The star's extreme properties and X-ray production rate point to its advanced age.
A study found that medical students experiencing burnout are more likely to engage in unprofessional conduct, such as dishonest behaviors and neglecting patient care. This association suggests a link between personal distress and professional behavior, highlighting the importance of addressing burnout in medical education.
Researchers at Mount Sinai School of Medicine have discovered a new mechanism behind craniofrontonasal syndrome (CFNS) and cleft palate. A mutation in the ephrin-B1 gene causes cell proliferation anomalies, leading to facial malformations.
Nine Plant Feedstocks Genomics for Bioenergy awards have been given to ASPB members, who will explore ways to enhance productivity, yield and sustainability of plants as sources of biofuels. Researchers will investigate the role of microRNAs, small RNA molecules and genetic diversity in improving bioenergy crops.
Researchers found that medical students who attended workshops on contextual clues during patient examinations showed significant improvement in treating patients with unique contexts. The study suggests that individualized care is something that can be taught and should be part of medical training.
Researchers developed population-specific identification criteria for the Chilean population to determine stature and biological sex of skeletal remains. This will help identify victims of political violence under Pinochet's regime and aid in contemporary body identification efforts in Chile.
A new microfluidic chip developed by Taiwanese researchers uses surface enhanced Raman spectroscopy to sort and identify bacteria. The technique creates unique spectral fingerprints for different bacterial species, enabling efficient identification.
Scientists used fluorescence correlation spectroscopy to investigate the processes at the surface of growing crystals. They found that when single tetragonal crystals formed, there was no concentration gradient between the solution and the crystal surface. However, in formation of clumps of needle-like branched crystals, called spherul...
Researchers found that people who watched videos of someone else performing simple actions were more likely to falsely remember doing the same action themselves two weeks later. This phenomenon, known as observation inflation, may be due to internal simulation of what others are doing while observing them.
A large prospective cohort study found that healthier lifestyle-related factors were independently associated with a lower risk of total and cause-specific mortality among Chinese women. These factors included normal weight, lower waist-hip ratio, exercise participation and higher daily fruit and vegetable intake.
Researchers at Binghamton University have developed a new manufacturing approach to reduce solar energy costs using continuous electronic sheets and roll-to-roll processing techniques. The hybrid material enables high-quality production with lower costs, making it competitive with silicon-based products.
The Atmospheric Infrared Sounder captured icy cold cloud top temperatures in Hurricane Igor, with readings as low as -90F. The storm's eye showed a warmer, open area with sea surface temperatures powering it.
Researchers have identified neuroimaging techniques that can predict Parkinson's disease in patients with REM sleep disturbances, enabling early neuroprotective treatment strategies. A study found that 19% of patients developed a neurodegenerative disorder within two and a half years, with 5 cases of Parkinson's disease among those sho...
A JAMA article recommends integrating biomedical informatics into medical education to improve physicians' ability to manage information and make informed decisions. The field of biomedical informatics has four major areas of applications, including bioinformatics, imaging informatics, clinical informatics, and public health informatics.
Brown University researchers have created an artificial human ovary, enabling them to mature human eggs in a lab setting. The innovation could lead to fertility research and infertility treatments for cancer patients.
Neuralstem's spinal cord stem cells survive and differentiate into neurons in rat brains affected by stroke, leading to improved motor skill and strength measurements. The study shows significant promise for treating post-stroke symptoms and paralysis.
A legal analysis by Lawrence O. Gostin asserts the health insurance mandate is constitutional due to federal powers regulating interstate commerce and taxation. The mandate's tax penalty is seen as essential for expanding healthcare access and correcting market failures, making it a key component of health reform.
Research suggests that heart patients with Type D personality are at a higher risk of developing future cardiovascular issues. A three-fold increase in such risks was observed among Type D patients compared to those without this personality profile.
Nautilus provides cutting-edge capabilities for analyzing large datasets in various fields, including life sciences and astrophysics. The system is designed to process vast amounts of data using its shared-memory architecture with four terabytes of memory.
A new study by Carnegie Mellon researchers found that doctors rationalize accepting gifts from pharmaceutical companies as a form of reward for their educational sacrifices. This rationalization increased their willingness to accept gifts, with the most significant impact when physicians were reminded of their medical training burdens.
The study found no link between ethnic diversity and high levels of perceived antisocial behaviour, contradicting previous research. Residents in ethnically diverse areas were actually less likely to believe the national crime rate was increasing.
A study found that depressed medical students are more likely to endorse depression stigma attitudes and experience suicidal thoughts. The authors suggest new approaches may be needed to reduce stigma and enhance prevention, detection, and treatment of mental illness in medical education.
A nationwide study of over 84,000 students found that those with high debt levels or low MCAT scores were more likely to face difficulties in medical school, including graduation or licensing exam failure. Students from underrepresented racial and ethnic groups also faced higher dropout rates.
A study led by Professor Graham Packham of the University of Southampton shows that watercress compounds can block a critical pathway linked to cancer development. The research found that eating watercress may interfere with the function of protein HIF, which plays a role in tumor growth.
Reading food labels can improve weight loss chances for middle-aged Americans, with women and overweight/obese individuals seeing better success rates. The analysis also highlights the value of standardized nutrition facts on packaged foods and calls for posting nutritional information in restaurants and vending machines.
A recent study by Yale University law professor Dan Kahan and others found that scientific consensus on issues like climate change and nuclear waste disposal is not enough to persuade people with competing cultural values. Instead, individuals tend to evaluate expert opinions based on their own cultural predispositions.
A study published in NeuroImage found that tranquil scenes with natural features stimulate brain activity, whereas man-made environments disrupt connections. The research aimed to understand the brain's response to tranquility and may inform the design of more calming public spaces.
A US clinical trial demonstrated the strong safety profile of bone marrow-derived mononuclear cells in patients after a severe heart attack. The study found improvements in left ventricular ejection fraction and volumes at six months, suggesting potential benefits for cell therapy trials.
J. Robert Selman, a leading expert in electrochemical engineering of batteries and fuel cells, will receive the prestigious Grove Medal for his valuable contributions to fuel cell technology. He has written over 135 journal papers and holds six patents, including those for phase change material in Li-ion batteries.
A new peer-reviewed paper reveals most of the world's remaining tigers are clustered in just six percent of their available habitat. Effective conservation efforts focused on these 42 'source sites' can prevent extinction and seed a recovery of the wild tiger, requiring an additional $35 million annually.
Researchers at UNC Charlotte are using Charlotte as an ideal living laboratory to study urban growth and sustainability. The project aims to determine if there are possibilities for alternative futures where urbanization, forest, and working lands can co-exist in an economic and environmentally sustainable fashion.
A study found that non-white students and those with lower Medical College Admission Test scores are more likely to drop out of medical school. The research, conducted by Washington University in St. Louis, analyzed data from over 97,000 students who were accepted between 1994-1999.
Researchers have developed a new generation of antibiotics that can overcome drug-resistant bacteria, such as MRSA. By harnessing the enzymes that inactivate antibiotics, the team created modified drugs that are effective against resistant bacterial strains.
A study by the Congenital Cardiovascular Interventional Study Consortium found that stent implantation for aortic coarctation had an 86% intermediate success rate and 77% long-term success rate. The procedure was associated with a need for antihypertensive medication in 32% of patients.
A study by Imperial College London and others found that a mix of cooperative and selfish yeast strains grew faster than a population of only cooperators. The 'cheats' ate broken-down sugar without producing it themselves, saving energy and improving efficiency when sugar was scarce.
New research reveals that early plants overcame an evolutionary hurdle by utilizing sugars from the environment, contrary to previous assumptions. This discovery has significant implications for global carbon cycling models, suggesting a more complex role for mixotrophy in plant growth and development.
Researchers at the University of Maryland have discovered how Mexican blind cavefish evolved adaptations to compensate for their loss of vision, including an enhanced vibration attraction behavior to detect food sources. This study provides new insights into the link between behavior, genetics, and evolution in these unique organisms.
A five-year analysis of Australian news stories found that stories written by specialist health journalists working for a single media outlet were of higher quality than those written by less experienced writers. The study highlights the importance of this source of health literacy as traditional media faces financial challenges.
Researchers are calling for a new focus on hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM), a genetic disorder causing sudden death in young people. A task force of cardiologists and cardiac biologists recommends studying the natural history of HCM, defining all genetic causes, supporting clinical trials, and preventing mutant gene expression.
Research in 30 countries found substantial inequalities in maternal and newborn health, as well as access to healthcare. The study identifies two main patterns of urban inequality in developing countries, highlighting the need for improved access to care.
A study of 71,243 Chinese women aged 40-70 found that those with higher cumulative scores for healthy lifestyle factors had a 43% lower risk of all-cause mortality. The strongest association was with cardiovascular disease deaths.
Four new studies reveal global fisheries' significant economic contribution of $225-$240 billion per year, while also highlighting the devastating impact of overfishing. The research shows that healthier fisheries could have prevented malnourishment in nearly 20 million people in poorer countries.
Researchers seek to replace lead-based PZT with a more environmentally friendly alternative that enables new applications in biological settings. Dragan Damjanovic proposes a novel approach based on polarization rotation and extension, which could lead to improved piezoelectric materials.
A study of residents found that 60% worked while sick at least once during the academic year, with 31% doing so more than once. Presenteeism can lead to exposure of patients and colleagues to communicable disease.
The commentary calls for a core medical school course that incorporates health policy, ethics, and evidence-based medicine to reflect economic influences on clinical decisions. This approach aims to improve physicians' critical capacity to assess factors affecting their decisions, as well as their social and ethical implications.
The Center for Astrophysics (CfA) will play a major role in NASA's Solar Probe Plus mission by deploying the Solar Wind Electrons Alphas and Protons (SWEAP) Investigation. SWEAP will directly sample the Sun's outer atmosphere, providing unprecedented insights into the Sun's effects on the solar system.
Researchers identified molecular changes and right ventricular diastolic dysfunction in patients with restrictive ventricular septal defect, a seemingly benign congenital heart disease. Early detection and treatment may prevent future complications and improve outcomes for these patients.
Researchers investigated whether recent experiences with clinical problems lead to availability bias, a key contributor to diagnostic errors. Structured re-analysis of case findings was found to counteract this bias and improve diagnostic accuracy.
A study by Michigan State University sociologist Aaron M. McCright found that women are more likely to believe in the scientific consensus on global warming than men. The research challenges common perceptions that men are more scientifically literate and suggests gender socialization as a possible explanation for the gender divide.
A study by University of Illinois College of Medicine researchers found that the order of third-year core clerkships affects performance on subject exams and overall grades. Internal medicine as the first clerkship was strongly associated with better outcomes, but not clinical performance or USMLE scores.
Studies have shown that hybrid cars achieve up to twice the efficiency in city driving, resulting in significant fuel consumption and CO2 emission reductions. Natural gas fueled vehicles also offer a comparable alternative with additional economy benefits.
Researchers at ASU's Biodesign Institute have developed new technologies to create a potential therapeutic that can protect soldiers against an unknown pathogen in just 7 days, significantly reducing the time needed for production. The project aims to utilize synthetic antibodies or synbodies to rapidly construct a custom-tailored ther...
A new study by the American Lung Association finds that helping smokers quit saves lives and offers significant economic benefits to states. States can expect a 26% return on investment for every dollar spent on smoking cessation treatments, with some states receiving even higher returns.
A new task force report reveals a possible connection between long-term bisphosphonate use and atypical femur fractures. The report recommends additional product labeling, international patient registry, and research to determine the relationship between the two.
A Mayo Clinic study of 4,400 medical students reveals that burnout is widespread and associated with dishonest behavior in patient care. Burned-out students were less likely to hold altruistic attitudes towards their role in society.
A study of US resident physicians found that reminding them of the sacrifices made for education increased the acceptance of gifts from industry. Most residents disagreed with suggested rationalization, but exposure to it further normalized gift perception.
Researchers have identified neuroimaging abnormalities in patients with rapid-eye-movement sleep behaviour disorder that predict the development of neurodegenerative diseases. The study found decreased striatal dopamine transporters uptake and midbrain hyperechogenicity to be risk factors for developing Parkinson's disease, dementia wi...
A new tool developed by Elizabeth Poposki measures preference for multitasking, which may help employers identify employees who can handle job demands without burnout. The study found that individuals who prefer to work on multiple tasks simultaneously enjoy the experience of multitasking more.
A new monoclonal antibody, RAB-1, has shown promising results in a Phase 1 study, achieving protective antibody levels comparable to the current standard of treatment. The therapy could potentially save tens of thousands of lives annually by addressing supply problems and side-effect issues associated with human rabies immune globulin.
A new study estimated human activities' impact on the North East Atlantic deep seafloor, finding bottom trawling has a greater physical footprint than other major activities. The research highlights the need for better data collection and management to protect seafloor ecosystems.
The CUNY Energy Institute has been awarded two grants totaling $4.6 million to develop low-cost, long-lasting energy storage systems and new capacitors for solid-state lighting. The projects aim to improve energy efficiency and reduce the need for excess generating capacity, enabling grid-scale energy storage.
Researchers from University of Houston team up with top institutions to develop approaches for improving reading comprehension skills among middle and high school students. The $20 million grant aims to provide clear guidance to teachers and schools about cognitive and motivational processes contributing to student reading.
A U-M study reveals that 53.3% of medical students with high depressive symptoms worry revealing their illness will be risky, while 62% believe seeking help means inadequate coping skills. The results highlight a concerning level of intolerance towards depression among medical peers.
Astronomers have found evidence for stellar cannibalism in the star BP Piscium, which appears to be an old red giant. The discovery suggests that stars like our Sun may engulf companion stars or planets as they age.
A study found that fourth-year medical students who participated in an educational intervention were more likely to seek, identify, and incorporate into care patient circumstances requiring variation from standard care. The intervention improved their skills in identifying patient context and decreasing contextual errors.
Leading international scientists propose a new approach to marine tenure to reverse the 'tragedy of the commons' and restore fish stocks. A successful experiment in Chile shows that co-operative models for fishery management can improve sustainability.
System 92L is developing a tropical depression signature with organized showers and thunderstorms. The system has a 40% chance of becoming a tropical depression over the next couple of days, posing life-threatening flash flooding and mudslides in the Caribbean region.
A three-year grant from NIH will fund a UChicago-Argonne team developing single-cell confinement technology for cultivating microbes in the human gut microbiome. This project aims to overcome traditional cultivation limitations and target poorly understood sulfur-reducing bacteria associated with ulcerative colitis.
A study conducted by a joint team of researchers from Ben-Gurion University of the Negev and the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine found significant disparities in skin cancer knowledge among male and female medical students in Florida. The study revealed that men had lower knowledge levels, less appreciation for sun protec...
Researchers at VCU have identified a potential risk gene for schizophrenia, CMYA5, associated with cardiomyopathy. The study involved over 33,000 participants and verified the findings through multiple independent samples.