African-American women with type-2 diabetes will receive health education through either face-to-face or virtual Second Life methods, with the goal of overcoming barriers to healthier lifestyles. The study aims to determine the feasibility and effectiveness of virtual health education for this population.
A team led by Dana-Farber Cancer Institute scientists created a molecule that prevents cancer genes from 'hearing' instructions, stifling the cancer process at its root. The research targets proteins issuing stop and start commands to a cancer gene, known as epigenetic reader proteins, for future cancer therapies.
A new type of matting developed by ECOPROMAT project uses natural materials to create an environmentally-friendly solution for protecting against contagious animal diseases. The matting is highly absorbent, biodegradable, and affordable, making it a significant cost-saving alternative to synthetic mats.
A study by Concordia University researchers found that high estrogen levels are associated with an inability to pay attention and learn in female rodents. Human females experience similar difficulties during ovulation, suggesting a direct link between estrogen and cognitive function.
Physicists at NIST have measured time dilation effects on two aluminum atomic clocks, demonstrating that time passes faster at higher elevations and slower when moving faster. The clocks' extreme precision reveals subtle differences in timekeeping, potentially leading to practical applications in geophysics.
Researchers at the University of Rochester Medical Center have identified a potential molecular mechanism to prevent cardiac hypertrophy, the precursor to heart failure. The study reveals that inhibiting histone deacetylase 5 and activating the PKA enzyme can stop unwanted enlargement of the heart.
A new study on decomposing permafrost in arctic Sweden will investigate the impact of warming temperatures on greenhouse gas emissions. Researchers hope to understand the feedback loop between thawing permafrost and accelerating global warming.
The USDA has signed a partnership with TechComm to facilitate agricultural research collaborations between businesses and universities in the Southwestern US. The agreement aims to commercialize USDA-developed technologies, creating new business ventures and job opportunities.
A Kansas State University researcher's work shows the key role of brand reputation in governing decisions in a store-within-a-store agreement. The research, published next year in the Journal of Marketing Research, highlights how cooperation between manufacturers and retailers is crucial for success.
The ICIAM Collatz Prize recognizes individual scientists under 42 worldwide for outstanding research in industrial and applied mathematics, while the Lagrange Prize honors career-long contributions. Other notable prizes include the Maxwell, Pioneer, and Su Buchin Prizes.
Tropical Storm Malakas is expected to strengthen as it approaches Iwo To due to cold cloud top temperatures. The storm's high sea levels and northward movement pose a threat to the island.
The University of Alaska Fairbanks has secured funding to test and evaluate payloads on small unmanned aircraft. The program will also expand its fleet of Insitu ScanEagles to include new models that can fly in remote and extreme conditions.
A new study by Queen's University reveals that soil bacteria in Arctic regions exhibit no similarity pattern based on distance, contradicting expectations. The research found thousands of unique bacterial types in each sample, regardless of location.
A new multistate study aims to develop and test technologies for site-specific detection and control of nematodes, reducing nematicide usage by over 75% compared to uniform-rate applications. The project will enhance crop yield while saving farmers thousands of dollars annually in reduced pesticide costs.
Boston University School of Medicine researchers are developing a portable fluorescent lamp to produce vitamin D in patients with fat malabsorption syndromes. The study aims to determine the effectiveness of this device in increasing blood levels of 25-hydroxyvitamin D, with initial results expected in the spring of 2011.
African-American victims of motorcycle crashes are 1.5 times more likely to die from their injuries than similarly injured whites, despite wearing helmets. Injury-prevention programs may not be sufficient to protect all riders equally.
A new study found substantial inconsistencies in how hospitals report catheter-associated bloodstream infections (CA-BSIs) in pediatric intensive care units (PICU). The analysis revealed that more aggressive surveillance efforts can actually lead to higher CA-BSI rates, complicating comparison of infection rates between hospitals.
Tropical Depression Lisa is expected to strengthen into a tropical storm due to increased convection, but faces challenges from dry air and wind shear. The National Hurricane Center forecasts a 'triple header' threat for Lisa after Friday.
Researchers have identified three proteins that rise in the blood during acute rejection, enabling doctors to halt organ rejection before it impairs transplanted hearts and kidneys. The new blood test will let doctors skip directly to drug dosing before a transplant is damaged.
The University of Washington, Oregon State University, and the University of Idaho will receive nearly $3.6 million in federal funding to develop new climate change planning tools. The Northwest Climate Science Center will provide science, maps, and assistance to resource managers to apply climate change findings.
A landmark study reports that many US states have inadequate policies and practices governing psychotropic medication use for foster care youth, with estimated rates of 13-52% compared to 4% in the general population. The report calls for a national approach and resources for medication oversight.
A new study by Saint Louis University researcher Lisa Cannada found that women who give birth after suffering pelvic fractures receive C-sections at more than double normal rates. Women also experience lingering symptoms such as urinary complications and post-traumatic stress disorder after a pelvic fracture injury.
Researchers at Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine develop a new technique to detect and monitor insecticide resistance in Anopheles funestus mosquitoes. The technique involves forcing female mosquitoes to lay eggs, which are then reared into adult mosquitoes to study levels of resistance to pyrethroid/DDT insecticides.
Tropical Depression 15 forms in the south-central Caribbean Sea with maximum sustained winds near 35 mph, prompting watches and warnings for Central America. The storm is forecast to strengthen into a tropical storm possibly within the next day due to warm waters.
A new study published in the Journal of Sexual Medicine found that 70% of women are facing sexual function problems approximately two years post-diagnosis. The study suggests that specific treatments for breast cancer, such as aromatase inhibitors, can exacerbate menopausal symptoms leading to sexual problems.
New supercomputer simulations show what the solar system might look like to alien astronomers searching for planets. The models also provide a glimpse of how this view might have changed as our planetary system matured.
The National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS) has awarded $36 million in grants to support worker safety training programs. These programs aim to reduce exposure to hazards during disaster response, cleanup, and chemical emergency responses.
Researchers discovered that trampling animals can push artifacts up to 21 centimeters into the ground, potentially altering a site's interpretation. This finding suggests that archaeologists should reanalyze some previous discoveries due to the significant impact of animal trampling on artifact context.
Researchers created a long-term global map of fine particulate matter (PM2.5) using satellite data, providing a comprehensive view of health-sapping air pollution worldwide. The map shows high levels of PM2.5 in Africa and Asia, with over 80% of the world's population breathing polluted air.
A new TB vaccine candidate called AERAS-422 is undergoing clinical trials to evaluate its safety and immunogenicity. The vaccine aims to interrupt TB at all stages of infection, including initial infection, latency, and reactivation.
Researchers at the University of Nevada, Reno have demonstrated a successful method for transforming wastewater sludge into electrical power. The process uses an innovative fluidized bed system to produce a solid fuel that can be used to generate electricity.
Researchers Tali Sharot and Cristina M. Velasquez improved on a previous experimental design to test subliminal decision making. The study found that participants' evaluations of chosen destinations increased after blind choice, suggesting a psychological mechanism to reduce tension from rejecting alternatives.
A research team led by Edward Yu has discovered the crystal structures of pumps that remove heavy metal toxins from bacteria, allowing them to resist antibiotics. This finding provides a better understanding of bacterial resistance and could help drug researchers develop treatments to combat it.
Researchers at UCLA's Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center have discovered a new cell signaling pathway that controls cell growth and development. This pathway, part of a global DNA damage response, turns off 136 genes that can promote aberrant cell division and cancer.
Researchers have identified a specific gene circuit that acts as a 'switch' to tell cells when to divide. This discovery may help scientists better understand cell biology and establish a library of cancer-causing pathways.
A team of researchers has identified a gene, MTHFD1L, that appears to increase the risk of developing late-onset Alzheimer's disease. The study found individuals with the variation may be nearly twice as likely to develop the disease compared to those without the variation.
A study published in the American Journal of Public Health found that increasing taxes on alcoholic beverages significantly reduces disease, injury, crime, and death rates. Doubling state alcohol taxes could lead to a 35% reduction in mortality, as well as decreases in STDs, violence, and crime.
A study published by a CU-led team reveals that three genes in jawless vertebrates may have been key to the development of jaws in higher vertebrates. The findings suggest that creating a jaw in a jawless ancestor was a relatively simple matter of altering when and where these few genes are used.
A new, less expensive catalyst for hydrogen purification has been discovered using platinum on standard support metal oxides. The research team developed a platinum-based catalyst that is highly active and stable at low temperatures, reducing the need for rare-earth elements like cerium.
Rensselaer researchers discovered that delayed communication in networks can lead to a decline in performance, even if initial coordination is increased. The study's findings have implications for various network systems, including computer networks and social media.
A pilot study revealed that patients prefer a robotic arm with manual mode, which requires more thought and interaction, despite performing tasks less well in this mode. The researchers aim to develop a hybrid model with an adaptive interface for individualized use.
A new study reveals that immune cells directly interact with and damage neurons in multiple sclerosis, leading to inflammation and neuronal injury. The findings suggest a potential therapeutic target for treating the incurable disease, by modulating calcium levels within neurons.
Researchers successfully recreated the conditions deep in the Earth's mantle to study the behavior of post-perovskite, a mineral that helps explain faster seismic waves. The discovery provides new insights into the earth's internal heating and cooling processes.
A new material, a potential ingredient for microbicides, dramatically lowers HIV infection rates by targeting the mediator between the virus and cells. The coating molecule blocks SEVI's interactions with both the virus and immune cells, preventing at least one way for HIV to attach.
A genetic variant reducing disease susceptibility is more prevalent in urban populations, suggesting exposure to TB led to its evolution. The study analyzed DNA samples from 17 populations across Europe, Asia, and Africa, revealing a link between city history and genetic resistance.
Researchers at The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute have discovered a new pathway used by malaria parasites to infect human cells, providing a potential vaccine target. Blocking both the glycophorin and CR1 pathways results in a 90% decrease in parasite infection, suggesting an effective vaccine could significantly reduce malaria cases.
Researchers found that long noncoding RNA MALAT1 plays a key role in regulating pre-mRNA splicing, a critical step in protein production. This study suggests that MALAT1's regulation of splicing factors may contribute to cancer development.
Researchers at Caltech have developed a new type of material made out of silicon that could lead to more efficient thermoelectric devices. The material is composed of a thin film with a grid-like arrangement of tiny holes, which slows down phonons and lowers its thermal conductivity.
A study found that malnutrition and inflammation status are key to understanding the effects of high cholesterol on kidney disease patients. Patients with malnutrition and/or inflammation had an inverse relationship between cholesterol levels and cardiovascular events, unlike those without these conditions.
Scientists at IRB Barcelona discover that raltegravir cancels function of essential protein in herpesvirus replication, offering potential target for new drug development. Human cytomegalovirus, the most deadly and widespread herpes virus, shows vulnerability to raltegravir treatment.
A recent Editorial in The Lancet highlights the need for strong leadership and education to redefine surgery's role and extend its benefits to wider populations. Key findings include inadequate operating theatres, anaesthetic cover, and emergency care provision, as well as surgeons' absence from healthcare debates and positions of power.
Two new species of horned dinosaurs, Utahceratops gettyi and Kosmoceratops richardsoni, have been found in Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument in southern Utah. The discovery provides insight into the biogenographic provinciality of Western North American dinosaur communities.
A new flood-mapping computer system is being developed to help emergency medical services crews navigate flooded roads in real-time. The system, led by UH Professor Gino Lim, will use color-coded maps to indicate the severity of flooding on major road segments.
Researchers at the University of Southern Mississippi have developed a new material that mimics cilia, allowing for control and potential use in sensing and monitoring applications. The material responds to various stimuli, enabling its application in detecting toxins, oxygen levels, or other environmental factors.
A study found that divisive primaries held after mid-April negatively impact incumbent general election performance, particularly those held close to the election. Challengers struggle to recover from primary battles due to limited time and resources.
Researchers at Van Andel Research Institute created a bioreactor to study shunt systems used in hydrocephalus treatment. The device helps prevent cells from blocking shunt catheters, potentially reducing complications and improving patient outcomes.
A University of Oklahoma research team has discovered a compound that can suppress the growth of pathogenic microbes and keep other oral microorganisms in check. This finding may lead to new treatments for thrush and related Candida infections.
A team of researchers at UC San Diego will study the impact of low oxygen levels on cells and tissue in the heart, lung, and brain. The study aims to understand molecular mechanisms that contribute to low oxygen tolerance or susceptibility in diseases such as stroke and pulmonary hypertension.
A study analyzing Canadian data shows a decline in breast cancer incidence among postmenopausal women as hormone therapy prescriptions fell. The decline, which coincided with a drop in hormone replacement therapy use, suggests that HRT may be linked to an increased risk of breast cancer.
Research from Utrecht University reveals that anger and sadness amplify pain equally in both women with and without fibromyalgia. The study also found that emotional sensitization of pain may be especially detrimental in people who already have high pain levels.