A new study found that planting activities significantly improved heart rate variation measurements and decreased cortisol levels in mentally challenged individuals. The most effective activity for stress relief was topiary crafting, which also showed a significant decrease in emotional stability benefits.
Researchers discovered plant bedding with insecticidal properties at a 77,000-year-old South African rock shelter. The bedding, made from sedges and rushes, was used to repel mosquitoes and other insects.
A Northwestern University study identified a gene that prevents blood vessels from forming in the cornea, which is essential for vision. The researchers hope to use this discovery as a basis for gene therapy to treat multiple eye disorders that cause blindness.
A new study published in the Journal of Applied Physiology found that brief high-intensity workouts can rapidly lower blood sugar levels in type 2 diabetics. The study, conducted on eight participants, showed improved glycemic control and increased skeletal muscle mitochondrial capacity.
Researchers at Purdue University and USDA develop method to test toxins on Hessian fly larvae, finding potential solution to failing genetic resistance in wheat. They discovered that snowdrop lectin disrupts digestive function in Hessian flies, slowing their development.
A University of Rochester Medical Center study found that nearly 78% of cancer-related blood clots occur in outpatients during chemotherapy treatment. The study's findings suggest a shift towards outpatient care and the need for education and compliance to prevent blood clots.
Researchers have created an interactive map that reveals London's social history in unprecedented detail, mapping information from a vast array of sources. The website allows users to explore the capital's past, including crime and punishment, distribution of wealth and poverty, and ownership of consumer goods.
A new study found that exercising at a very high intensity, but for just 30 minutes a week, can lower blood sugar concentrations and reduce post-meal spikes. This short, high-intensity training regimen increased skeletal mitochondrial capacity, a marker of metabolic health.
A sports medicine expert warns NBA players about the potential for serious injuries, particularly Achilles tendon injuries, due to prolonged lockouts. The expert cites a study from the NFL, which found a significant increase in career-threatening injuries after training camps began with minimal preparation.
Tomato and watermelon crops show higher capacity for carbon fixation under saline conditions. In contrast, lettuce, melon, and pepper crops have lower photosynthetic rates and chlorophyll content, indicating reduced efficiency in CO2 accumulation.
Researchers discovered that intestinal B cells acquire functions allowing them to neutralize pathogens while in the gut, a complex balance between beneficial and harmful bacteria. This finding provides insight into the immune system's ability to fight infection without damaging beneficial bacteria and other essential cells.
Researchers have discovered a novel route for synthesizing EMT zeolites with large pores at near ambient temperature and low pressure. This approach avoids the use of expensive templates, enabling potential industrial applications in catalysis and adsorption.
Medical researchers created 'conversation cards' to facilitate open discussions between parents and health professionals about pediatric weight management. The deck of cards, piloted in January 2012, aims to reduce power differentials and promote a more supportive conversation.
African lungfish demonstrates unique walking behavior using its thin pelvic limbs, propelling itself forward and lifting its body off the bottom surface. This discovery suggests that many developments necessary for the transition from water to land could have occurred in lobe-finned ancestors of the lungfish long before early tetrapods.
Researchers analyzed data from 8972 patients with heart blockages to understand variations in cardiac procedures, including bypass surgery and stent placement. They found significant differences in procedure rates based on patient factors, physician recommendations, and hospital characteristics.
Researchers at UWE Bristol and University of Bristol discovered that mutations in one specific cancer gene can control splicing balance, allowing a master switch to be turned on. This enables the growth of cancer cells and blood vessels, but new drugs targeting this process may block tumour growth.
Researchers from RUB have deciphered the role of proteins in cell environment, revealing tenascin C's crucial function in regulating astrocyte development. The absence of tenascin C leads to delayed cell division and migration, resulting in an increased number of mature astrocytes.
Researchers halt progressive neuron degeneration in rat model of familial ALS by switching off mutant TDP-43 expression. Recovery is possible if intervention occurs before significant motor neuron degeneration.
Researchers from the University of Edinburgh developed an imaging technique using positron emission tomography (PET) scans to predict which patients need open heart surgery. The study found that inflammation and calcification processes are key factors in aortic stenosis, offering new hope for treatments.
University of Iowa researchers have found a way to cure mice of bloodstream malaria infections by rescuing an immune system pathway. The study's findings suggest that blocking the action of inhibitory receptor molecules could be an effective strategy for treating existing malaria infections.
Researchers found that tea seed powder can either increase or decrease plant growth depending on the application dose. The study suggests that using TSP at the correct dose could improve crop yields and quality in agriculture and horticulture operations.
Researchers at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute have created a peptide cocktail that sparks a stronger diverse immune response in laboratory culture than individual peptides. The combination of four antigenic peptides is believed to provide an effective therapeutic application for patients with multiple myeloma and related diseases.
A Duke University study found increased salinity and trace elements in the Upper Mud River due to multiple surface coal mines. The research provides evidence of the cumulative effects of mountaintop mining on a river network.
The NDAR federation has created the largest source of autism research data to date, providing a standardized platform for collaboration and data sharing. Researchers can access results from various sources simultaneously, conducting independent analyses and supplementing their own research data.
A study from Northwestern University found that banned technical swimsuits played a significant role in the unprecedented number of world records set in swimming during the 2009 world championships. The suits were suspected of reducing drag, improving buoyancy, and compressing muscles, leading to enhanced performance.
Researchers sequenced DNA from two sisters with follicular lymphoma and found identical BCL2/IGH rearrangements. The study identified 15 mutations that were present in both lymphomas, indicating a donor-recipient transmission of cancer-causing genetic material.
Research by University of Warwick finds that changes in soil temperature trigger sensitivity to plant hormones in seeds, altering dormancy depth. This regulation can help predict the impact of climate change on native flora and crop competition.
A recent clinical trial in patients with hemophilia B showed that Factor IX gene therapy was able to convert severe hemophilia to moderate or mild disease. The treatment demonstrated a sustained therapeutic effect and eliminated or substantially reduced the need for standard protein replacement.
Researchers discovered a new bacterial signal that enables invading bacteria to coordinate attacks on plants, but also triggers a defense response in targeted rice plants. The study found that the protein Ax21 is secreted by bacteria and induces an immune response in rice, leading to a stronger defense against infection.
A new analysis by Michigan Technological University researchers suggests that solar photovoltaic systems can make electricity cheaper than what consumers pay their utilities. The study reveals that previous assumptions about the cost of solar energy were overly conservative, and that the true cost of photovoltaic technology is lower th...
Inaccurate blood pressure measurements from faulty techniques result in misclassified patients and potentially different treatment decisions. A study published by the University of New Mexico found that 93% of patients have different blood pressure readings when using outdated versus updated guidelines.
A UC Davis School of Medicine researcher has developed an algorithm that predicts the conformation changes in voltage-gated sodium channels, crucial for designing new drugs to treat chronic pain and epilepsy. This innovation could lead to highly specific and effective therapies with minimal side effects.
A new study published in Journal of Arid Environments found that climate change is causing widespread tree mortality and species loss in the Sahel region of Africa, with one in six trees dying between 1954 and 2002.
A new study by Michigan State University researcher Brooke Ingersoll found that teaching imitation skills to toddlers and preschoolers with autism improves key areas of deficit, such as eye contact and gestures. The findings come at a pivotal time in autism research, which is detecting behaviors and symptoms earlier than ever before.
A California hospital raised its employee influenza vaccination rate above 90 percent by implementing a mandatory vaccination policy. The study, published in Infection Control and Hospital Epidemiology, found that voluntary programs alone were insufficient to achieve meaningful increases in flu vaccination rates.
An interdisciplinary research team at WPI will develop an integrated application to track blood sugar levels, weight, and image analysis of lesions. The app aims to provide personalized feedback to encourage patients to make good decisions and improve outcomes.
Researchers used decoded fMRI neurofeedback to induce brain activity patterns, improving visual performance and learning in a novel approach. The method worked even when test subjects were not aware of what they were learning.
Researchers analyzed over 150,000 adult ADHD users and found no significant association between current use of ADHD medications and an increased risk of heart attack, stroke, or sudden cardiac death. Cardiovascular disease rates were similar among new and ever-users of these medications.
A new study found that mannose-binding lectin (MBL) plays a key role in targeting and destroying dengue viruses. Individuals with high levels of MBL may be better equipped to fight off the disease. This discovery could lead to the development of antivirals and vaccines to boost the immune response.
Addiction is a chronic neurobiologic response affected by genetic and environmental influences. Treatment approaches should be based on scientific evidence and rational argument, acknowledging personal responsibility while recognizing the role of addiction in impairing it.
Researchers found that early defoliation of Great Lakes wine grapes significantly reduces fruit set, cluster weight, and berries per cluster. The study suggests that retaining non-fruiting shoots with all leaves could mitigate the negative carryover effect on vine performance.
A recent study published in Preventive Medicine found that individuals exposed to the 9/11 disaster are at risk of developing heart disease, respiratory illness, and post-traumatic stress disorder. Volunteers who were not affiliated with organizations were more highly exposed to hazardous chemicals and had poorer health outcomes.
By using diamonds and dust to simulate extreme pressures, researchers gained new insights into calcium-silicate-hydrate, a critical binder in concrete. The study aims to reduce carbon emissions and create stronger, more efficient cements.
Autism Speaks has joined the National Institute of Health's National Database for Autism Research (NDAR), providing access to genetic, phenotypic, and clinical data from 2500 families. This collaboration enables researchers to pool larger datasets and accelerate scientific discovery.
A NYBG scientist estimates that at least 540 to 653 new drugs could be discovered from plants, with potentially thousands more waiting to be evaluated. This analysis highlights the potential value of continuing to screen plants for novel bioactive compounds.
A study found that half of tumors from T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL) patients expressed genes normally found in stem cells and acute myeloid leukemia (AML) tumors. Additionally, many of these AML-like T-ALL tumors contained specific mutations associated with cancer progression.
A Wayne State University researcher is using zebrafish to study the spread of cholera and develop new treatments. The bacteria, Vibrio cholerae, can cause severe diarrhea and death if ingested by humans.
Researchers at Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf have measured the lifetime of electrons in graphene in lower energy ranges. The study reveals that the energy of light particles and atomic lattice oscillations influence electron lifetimes, with longer lifetimes observed when excitation energies are lower than lattice oscillations.
A recent study examines the explanations for the math 'gender gap' and finds that many hypotheses fail to hold up. The research suggests that sociocultural factors, such as education and school attendance patterns, contribute to country-specific differences in boys' and girls' mathematics performance.
A new study by Sandipan Chowdhury and Baron Chanda from the University of Wisconsin-Madison provides a model-free analysis of the free energy of channel opening, offering a rare example of thermodynamic reasoning. This approach circumvents the challenges of model fitting, providing a path forward for researchers in the field.
A new device, designed to mimic the periosteum, has shown promising results in healing critical-sized bone defects in sheep. The device delivers stem cells, growth factors, and natural components of the periosteum to promote bone growth, and can be used for a range of applications beyond bone healing.
Research by Cornell University and Rutgers University found that bees and flowering plants are keeping pace with climate change, arriving earlier in the spring. This shift has been observed since 1970, when warming temperatures accelerated most rapidly, according to the study published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
A rare genetic disorder has provided insight into pancreatic development, suggesting that GATA6 plays a crucial role in programming stem cells to become pancreatic cells. The study sheds light on the underlying causes of most cases of pancreatic agenesis and may help develop new treatments for type 1 diabetes.
Researchers are studying ways anti-trafficking groups fight back against globalization's impact on sex trafficking. The study focuses on geography, history, and economic impact of trafficking, highlighting how technology and transportation have enabled the transnationalization of the sex trade.
A recent study has found that many US species at risk of extinction are not on the country's official Endangered Species Act (ESA) list. The IUCN Red List, a leading global threatened species list, reveals that up to 95% of certain species groups are missing from the ESA.
A new study published in Addiction journal found that alcohol consumption directly impacts a person's intention to have unsafe sex. The study analyzed 12 experiments and found a significant increase in the likelihood of unprotected sex with rising blood alcohol levels.
A study of over 150,000 adults aged 25-64 found no significant link between ADHD medication use and serious cardiovascular events such as heart attacks or strokes. The researchers compared users to non-users and also examined risk in subgroups defined by the type of medication used.
Scientists have discovered a new communication code employed by disease-causing bacteria, which is recognized by plant and animal immune receptors. This discovery has significant implications for controlling bacterial diseases and could lead to new methods for treatment.
A new study assesses the effects of malaria and its treatment in the first trimester of pregnancy, revealing that the disease increases the risk of miscarriage. However, treating with standard antimalarial drugs reduces this risk significantly.
A Phase II clinical trial of 75 AML patients treated with vorinostat and chemotherapy resulted in an 85% remission rate. Higher-risk patients showed a complete response rate of 100%, while those with -5/-7 cytogenetic alterations fared less well. The Phase III trial will compare this combination to standard-of-care frontline therapies.