A new study in sleep-deprived rats reveals that even when awake and active, scattered groups of neurons can briefly fall asleep, leading to declines in task performance. This phenomenon is more analogous to local lapses seen in epilepsy and may help explain impaired cognitive function in sleep-deprived individuals.
A new Berkeley Lab study forecasts China's energy use will level off, even as its population edges past 1.4 billion, due to saturation in energy demand for appliances and housing. The report also predicts significant reductions in greenhouse gas emissions through increased adoption of electric cars, nuclear power, and improved energy e...
Research by Roz Dakin and Robert Montgomerie found that peacock tails with fewer eyespots are less successful in attracting mates, suggesting other characteristics like colour pattern may play a role. The study suggests females consider multiple factors during courtship, including tail size and health.
Researchers at George Washington University have identified 18 novel genetic markers for autism spectrum disorders, highlighting four distinct subtypes and ten associated variants. These findings provide potential genetic biomarkers for diagnostic screening and advance the understanding of autism's genetic contributions.
A new study found that extended-release naltrexone is an effective treatment for opioid dependence, with patients experiencing high rates of abstinence and reduced craving. However, critics argue that the FDA's approval of this drug was premature and failed to adequately investigate risks, such as post-treatment overdose.
Research finds that high maternal viral load and HIV co-infection are risk factors for HCV transmission to child, while a genetic variation in the IL28B gene is associated with spontaneous HCV clearance. The study analyzed 145 mothers infected with HCV and found that 61% of those with a certain IL28B variant were HCV-RNA positive.
A study by the Spanish Foundation for Science and Technology found a lack of standardisation in peer review processes among Spanish scientific journals. This results in low international competitiveness, with many journals failing to meet external review requirements and having non-standard evaluation protocols.
A new chemical bonding process adds new functions to stainless steel, improving its suitability for biomedical devices. Carbohydrate molecules are attached to the surface, enabling interaction with the immune system and potentially overcoming problems like blood clotting and allergenic responses.
Researchers at Tufts University have developed a device that can help reduce patient discomfort during colonoscopies by detecting and preventing 'looping' of the scope. The EFOST technology uses fiber optic bend sensors to create a visual image of the scope's position and shape, allowing doctors to make adjustments in real-time.
A global team of scientists suggests that Agulhas leakage could strengthen the Atlantic overturning circulation by enhancing deep water formation. This finding is significant as it counters predictions of weakening the circulation due to global warming.
Researchers at Brown University have discovered new molecular interactions in stem cells that control their versatility, using a technology called MEGAShift. The study found that proteins compete and cooperate to produce complex bindings along DNA sequences.
American mathematician Andrew Toms has been awarded the prestigious AMS Centennial Fellowship for his excellence in research. The fellowship, worth $79,000, supports his work on operator algebras and their connections to dynamics and descriptive set theory.
Researchers warn that current camera technology cannot be directly applied to the human retina due to differences in photoreceptor distribution and fractal patterns. New implant designs, such as nanocluster deposition, are being developed to address these challenges.
A large-scale citizen science project has found that banded snails have evolved to have a single dark spiral band around their shell, with no correlation to temperature changes. Researchers suspect this may be due to a decrease in bird predation or small environmental changes.
A new study reveals that women are 60% more likely than men to experience radiocontrast-induced nephropathy, a type of kidney damage, after undergoing coronary angiograms. Researchers theorize that a woman's smaller size may be a contributing factor, suggesting potential adjustments to contrast dye dosages.
Researchers found cotinine reduced Alzheimer's disease brain plaques and prevented memory loss in mice, showing promising results for a potential therapy. Cotinine also stimulated the survival of neurons and enhanced attention and memory.
Researchers at Boston Children's Hospital used Facebook-like tools and personally controlled health records to engage online diabetes social network members in public health surveillance. The study showed that health-focused social networks can be viable resources for chronic disease surveillance.
A new study from the Norwegian Institute of Public Health found significant differences in mortality rates between urban and isolated rural communities during the 1918 Spanish flu pandemic. Mortality rates were much higher in isolated communities, with up to 90-100% of adults over 30 years dying from the virus.
Retired NHL players will undergo comprehensive cognitive testing, brain scanning, and blood sampling to identify risk factors associated with cognitive decline and dementia. The study aims to better understand the aging brain in professional athletes and the general population.
Research reveals that collaboration can both hinder and help memory, with 'collaborative inhibition' affecting recall for various tasks. This phenomenon is attributed to 'retrieval disruption,' 'social contagion of errors,' and the benefits of collaborative learning, including error correction and cross-cuing.
Researchers analyzed wild Mexican, Central, and South American blueberries finding two types to be extreme super fruits with significantly more antioxidants than commercial varieties, potentially offering enhanced protection against heart disease and cancer.
A Swiss-US team found a new strain of leprosy bacteria in the Southern United States, transmitted through direct contact with armadillos. The study confirms inter-species contamination and highlights the importance of education and prudence to prevent further infection.
Researchers used a precise atom-by-atom layering technique to fabricate ultrathin transistor-like devices, studying the conditions that turn insulating materials into high-temperature superconductors. The study revealed that as mobile charge carriers are increased, cuprate films transition from insulating to superconducting behavior wh...
Researchers have assembled a collection of thousands of approved drugs to explore additional uses against rare and neglected diseases. The effort aims to find off-label therapies for some 6,000 rare diseases that afflict 25 million Americans.
Researchers identify a promising candidate gene, SLC6A15, involved in the regulation of glutamate, an important neurotransmitter. The study shows that changes in this gene's activity can be influenced by genetic variations and even stress, providing new insights into depression.
Researchers found that the accretion of microcontinental blocks significantly affects continental growth, with potentially greater early crust than estimated. Paleosol analysis revealed optimal water-holding potential and fertility levels for subtropical soils from the late Cretaceous period.
The laser printing process is now being used to produce functional products, with applications in industries such as automotive and medical devices. The additive manufacturing market is expected to continue growing, driven by advances in polymer materials and increasing demand for customized products.
Researchers have developed a low-cost sensor that can identify infectious bacteria by smell, offering a faster diagnosis than traditional methods. The sensor uses a printed pigment array to detect unique chemical signatures from each bacterium, identifying specific species and strains in just a few hours.
Researchers found beaked whales use specific ocean features like salinity and temperature to find their prey, which varies from 400-1000 meters. The study provides evidence of the distribution and feeding habitat of Blaineville's beaked whales relative to ocean features.
A recent study by Children's National Hospital has discovered that resiniferatoxin, a promising drug for acute chronic pain, may decrease the body's ability to fight off bacterial infections like sepsis. The research highlights the importance of monitoring potential side effects of this medication.
Scientists have developed a new imaging agent using tantalum oxide nanoparticles, which stays in the body long enough to image multiple organs. The material is inexpensive and has shown promising results in laboratory tests, potentially overcoming limitations of existing imaging agents.
The American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO) has developed a guideline for palliative thoracic radiation therapy to treat advanced lung cancer. The guideline recommends various regimens of thoracic external beam radiation therapy as effective for symptom palliation, but not endobronchial brachytherapy or concurrent chemotherapy.
A study by the Institute for Ocean Conservation Science uses DNA testing to identify separate populations of dusky and copper sharks in different coastal regions, allowing for tracking of their origins and informing management of the shark fin trade. The research demonstrates that genetic differences among regional groups can be used t...
A new report by the Commonwealth Fund finds that 90% of American families living above the federal poverty level will be able to afford health insurance under the Affordable Care Act. However, high out-of-pocket costs will still be a challenge for some families, particularly those with incomes between 100-300% of poverty.
A paper in Nature notes the power of social media in shaping research priorities in Canada, particularly in the case of a controversial multiple sclerosis treatment. Researchers call for more effective communication tools between scientists and the public to ensure patients' concerns are heard.
A new study uses creative engineering to unravel brain mechanisms associated with self-consciousness, identifying the TPJ as critical for self-location and first-person perspective. The research found that brain damage interfering with multisensory body information may lead to pathological changes in these subjective states.
A new study from Hasbro Children's Hospital found that 72% of girls and 91% of boys with obesity have low vitamin D levels. Treatment showed a significant increase in vitamin D levels, but only 28% normalized after one course, highlighting the need for further research.
Researchers at the University of Alberta have discovered a critical molecule that, when absent in T-cells, can cause autoimmunity. This finding has significant implications for stem-cell transplantation treatments used for autoimmune diseases and cancer.
A study found that vitamin D deficiency is associated with higher fat levels in both black and white children, but racial differences exist in fat tissue distribution. Vitamin D was also linked to lower levels of good cholesterol in all subjects.
Researchers at University of Alberta find that inorganic mercury transforms into deadly monomethylmercury in seawater, amplifying toxic effects through the food chain. Microbial life forms are believed to carry out this process, which accounts for 50% of neurotoxin present in polar marine waters.
A new study reveals that clock genes function in multiple areas of the human brain, affecting sleep patterns and cognitive function in Alzheimer's patients. The findings have significant implications for understanding and treating sleep disturbances associated with the disease.
Researchers tracked loggerhead sea turtles and found that persistent organic pollutants accumulate in their systems as they travel further north along the Atlantic coast. The studies also suggest that pollutants may pose a threat to the survival of this endangered species.
Researchers suggest Agulhas leakage could trigger strengthening of Atlantic overturning circulation, which would counteract effects of global climate change on North America and Europe. Increased Agulhas leakage over the past few decades may have triggered end of glacial cycles.
A new study identifies SLC6A15 as a novel susceptibility gene for major depression, which may lead to the discovery of novel antidepressant drugs. The researchers found that lower expression of SLC6A15 in the hippocampus is linked to increased stress susceptibility and altered neuronal circuits.
A study funded by NIH found that vitamin E improved the most severe form of fatty liver disease in children, reversing NASH in at least half. The treatment showed significant reductions in liver cell death and improvements in liver enzyme levels.
A study of movie star marriages found that similar educational backgrounds are a common trait among married actors, despite no correlation with success. This suggests that non-financial partner traits correlated with education play a significant role in mate selection, contradicting theories on income and social factors.
Researchers at NIST created nanomagnets with egg-like shapes to study their effects on magnetic properties. The shape distortions led to complex wave patterns and frequency shifts, which can be harnessed for developing more reliable random-access memories (RAM) that reduce processor power needs.
The incidence of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is increasing rapidly in the UK, with estimated annual diagnoses of 5,000 new cases. Researchers found a significant rise in IPF-related deaths, with more people dying from IPF than from certain types of cancer.
Researchers at the University of Wisconsin-Madison discovered that certain nerve cells in a sleep-deprived yet awake brain can briefly enter a sleep-like state, negatively impacting performance. This 'local sleep' phenomenon affects specific groups of neurons in the motor cortex, leading to mistakes and decreased vigilance.
Scientists use a field campaign to study convective clouds and their role in generating significant rainfall. The Mid-latitude Continental Convective Clouds Experiment (MC3E) combines data from various sources to better understand precipitation physics and improve satellite algorithms.
Researchers at NRL have demonstrated the polarization of graphene's valley degree of freedom through scattering off a naturally occurring line defect, offering a potential path to valleytronics. This discovery could lead to more robust and efficient electronic devices.
A phase 3 clinical study found that VIVITROL, a once-monthly opioid-blocking medication, significantly increased opioid-free weeks among patients with opioid dependence. The treatment was well-tolerated, with only mild adverse events reported. The results suggest that VIVITROL is an important new option for treating opioid dependence.
A team at MIT led by Mark Bathe has developed software to predict the three-dimensional shape of complex DNA structures, making it easier to create nanoassembly technology. This advancement enables biologists, chemists, and materials scientists to design and build intricate shapes using DNA without extensive expertise in DNA origami.
According to a new study published in the Journal of the American Dietetic Association, many US adults are not meeting adequate calcium intake levels. The study found that median dietary calcium intake was lower in older age groups and that energy intake declined with aging.
Researchers found that bariatric surgery significantly improved glycemic control in obese patients with type 2 diabetes, even before significant weight loss occurred. The study suggests that biochemical and hormonal changes related to branched-chain amino acids may play a key role in this improvement.
A study by Angela Lee Duckworth found that motivation makes up a larger share of the predictive power of IQ tests for those with below-average scores. The research also showed that ratings of test motivation were equally predictive of adult outcomes as IQ scores.
Researchers have developed a new technique that allows cancer-fighting cells to survive in patients' bloodstreams for over a year, without the need for toxic treatments. The study showed promising results, with one patient remaining cancer-free two years after treatment.
Researchers have identified a protein in blood serum that distinguishes pancreatic cancer from non-cancerous conditions. The discovery suggests a potential blood test to detect pancreatic cancer at an earlier stage.
Researchers found that heart attacks between 6am and noon cause a 20% larger area of dead tissue, leading to more severe consequences for patients. This study suggests that time of day can significantly impact the severity of heart attacks.
A study of 435 women who underwent treatment for precancerous cervical lesions found that a three-cytological-smears post-treatment surveillance strategy is effective in identifying women at long-term risk of cervical cancer. By adding high-risk human papillomavirus (hrHPV) testing, the need for subsequent screens can be reduced.