A study published by Dartmouth researchers found that pregnant women who consumed rice had higher levels of arsenic in their urine, highlighting the need to monitor arsenic in food sources. The findings also underscore concerns about private well water being a potential source of arsenic exposure.
A small pilot study suggests that acupuncture can improve nerve signaling and alleviate symptoms of chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy in cancer patients. The treatment showed positive effects on nerve conduction studies and patient-reported improvements, sparking hope for further investigation into its potential benefits.
Astronomers have discovered the largest black holes to date, two monsters with masses equivalent to 10 billion suns threatening to consume anything within a region five times the size of our solar system. These black holes are located in giant elliptical galaxies more than 300 million light years from Earth.
Researchers observed oxidative changes in living organisms for the first time, revealing that many assumptions about oxidative stress and aging are incorrect. Antioxidants did not reduce oxidant levels, but rather increased production in energy plants.
A follow-up study by Moffitt Cancer Center researchers found that patients who received chemotherapy for breast cancer may experience prolonged fatigue years after treatment. This contradicts prior research and has important implications for patient education and fatigue monitoring during follow-up.
Researchers create tube-shaped traps from bottle-brush molecules, capturing particles of specific sizes using negatively charged inner walls. The nanotubes can be used to separate large quantum dots from small ones or separate proteins by size and charge.
Researchers at Penn State have designed a new Facebook app sign-up interface that allows users to control what information they share with third-party developers. The design features clear language and multiple options for data sharing, resulting in improved user understanding of security settings.
Researchers from Boston College and Brandeis University found that mosquitoes use TRPA1 channels to distinguish between heat and chemical odors. This discovery could lead to the development of solutions to target disease-spreading mosquitoes, reducing their ability to sense humans and transmit diseases.
Researchers at Genentech have identified a binding pocket on the Ras oncogene that provides an opening for therapeutic agents to attach. The discovery makes Ras, a gene mutated in 25% of human tumors, 'druggable' for cancer treatment.
A number of threatened species rely on human agriculture for survival, according to a new study by the University of East Anglia. Local communities practising traditional agriculture with low ecological impact support valuable practices like grazing animals and growing cereal crops.
Researchers have identified a new reprogramming mechanism for tumor cells, with the protein CPEB4 activating hundreds of genes associated with tumor growth. The study found that inhibition of CPEB4 reduces tumor size by up to 80%, providing a promising avenue for new cancer treatments.
A new study found that global warming increases the growth rate of parasites in fish, leading to altered host behavior and potentially devastating effects on fish reproduction. The research also suggests that parasites can manipulate host behavior to seek out warmer temperatures.
Scientists have identified two novel susceptibility genes, EDIL3-HAPLN1 and ANO6, related to bone formation and cartilage development. The study also confirms the previously reported association with HLA-B*27 variants, suggesting a complex interplay of immune mechanisms.
Researchers at Stanford Medicine have discovered a pathway that reveals how podocytes, specialized epithelial cells in the kidney, can regenerate and renew themselves during normal kidney function. This finding could lead to the development of therapies to treat people with chronic kidney disease.
New reports identify extreme vulnerability of Asia's mountainous Hindu Kush-Himalayan region to climate change, with rising temperatures disturbing the balance of snow, ice, and water. Glaciers are shrinking at a rate of 22 percent in Bhutan and 21 percent in Nepal over the past 30 years.
Scientists have found that stretching single molecules can increase their electrical conductivity, contradicting the common assumption that longer wires are less conductive. The discovery uses force-induced resonant tunneling and has significant implications for microelectronics and biological sensing.
Researchers identified 23 significantly mutated genes in kidney cancer, including two tumor suppressor genes. The study suggests that alteration of the ubiquitin-mediated proteolysis pathway may contribute to kidney cancer tumorigenesis by activating the hypoxia regulatory network.
Researchers have identified genetic variants in glutamate receptor genes that may contribute to attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). The study found alterations in four genes involved in brain signaling pathways, which could lead to new treatment options for patients with ADHD who have these gene variants.
Global carbon dioxide emissions from fossil fuels have reached a record 10 billion tons, exceeding projections by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. The increase is largely driven by emerging economies, with China and India contributing significantly to global emissions growth.
Scientists at the Pasteur Institute discovered a novel defensive weapon against Shigella bacteria: septin protein cages. These cages not only target pathogens for degradation by autophagy but also prevent bacterial spread by impeding access to actin, a cell skeleton component.
Research on naked mole rat sperm reveals a lack of competition among breeding males, resulting in degenerate evolution. The sperm's motility and structure are abnormal for any other mammal, but the males are still fertile and father healthy offspring.
A new study reveals two mechanisms by which cells remove embedded ribonucleotides from DNA: the mismatch repair system and RNase H. This research provides insights into how cells maintain genomic integrity and potentially opens up new avenues for understanding RNA-driven DNA evolution.
The seven winning Celldance 2011 videos demonstrate the structure and function of living organisms at a microscopic scale. The award-winning entries feature various cell types, including fibroblasts and tumor cells, showcasing their behavior and interactions.
A new study published in Psychological Science found that people with poor credit scores are more impatient and prefer shorter-term gains over longer-term benefits. This impulsivity can lead to strategic defaulting on loans, as individuals weigh the costs of delayed gratification against short-term benefits.
A recent study published in Science reveals that the Antarctic and Arctic ice sheets experienced simultaneous melting 19,000 years ago. This finding suggests that Antarctica was not as climatically isolated as previously thought, with the two hemispheres reacting more closely to climate change.
Researchers at Max Planck Institute discovered that plant seed cells contract their nuclei and condense chromatin to resist dehydration, enabling seeds to survive harsh conditions. This mechanism allows seeds to prepare for germination when environmental conditions improve.
Researchers at Moffitt Cancer Center found MK1775 effective in treating sarcoma cells, inducing apoptosis and causing cell death, regardless of p53 mutation status. The study suggests that Wee1 inhibition by MK1775 may represent a novel approach in treating sarcomas.
Four US clinical centers have begun providing access to Novocure's Tumor Treating Fields (TTFields) device for treating recurrent GBM, a deadly brain tumor. The device has shown clinical efficacy comparable to active chemotherapies with better quality of life.
A new study funded by the ESRC reveals that disabled children often experience discrimination, exclusion, and even violence. Despite this, many have untapped reserves of potential and high aspirations that can be fulfilled with effective support.
A new study by Beijing Normal University cognitive psychologist Jia Liu and colleagues found that holistic processing is critical to face recognition. Individuals who perform well in tasks measuring holistic processing, such as the composite-face effect and whole-part effect, also excel at recognizing faces.
A new study shows that sound can affect visual perception at an unconscious level, enhancing performance on tasks involving moving objects. Participants performed better when sound moved in the same direction as the object's movement, even if it was irrelevant to the task.
Researchers at Case Western Reserve University developed a method to engineer cartilage replacements using mesenchymal stem cells and tiny beads filled with growth factor. The new approach showed promising results in creating thicker, stiffer cartilage than previous methods.
The UCLA-developed integral projection model improves predictions for species facing climate change by analyzing multiple data sources simultaneously. The model reveals that gradual environmental changes have a greater impact on populations than fluctuating changes.
Researchers used fMRI scans to investigate moral judgments, finding that people make automatic distinctions between active and passive harms. The study suggests that allowing harm by failing to act requires more deliberate thinking, unlike actively causing harm which triggers an immediate response.
The Biophysical Society has announced the winners of its 2012 Education Committee travel awards, selected based on scientific merit and conference presentation. The awardees will receive travel grants and be recognized at a reception.
Researchers have developed a cheap material to store solar-heated energy, releasing it slowly at night to keep homes warm without fossil fuels. The phase change material blends paraffin wax and stearic acid, which can be stored in small spherical capsules.
The Biophysical Society announced the winners of its 2012 International Relations Committee travel awards, recognizing scientific merit and proposed presentations at the 56th Annual Meeting. The award fosters interaction between American biophysicists and scientists in countries experiencing financial difficulties.
Scientists have discovered that roundworms can pass on immunity to a virus through small RNA molecules, which were not dependent on the organism's genome. This finding suggests that Lamarckian inheritance may provide adaptive advantages to an animal by allowing them to hold onto beneficial genes until needed.
The Biophysical Society has announced the winners of its Minority Affairs Committee travel awards, which support participation at the Annual Meeting by minority students and early career scientists. The recipients include 12 researchers from diverse backgrounds who will present their research in San Diego.
Researchers at the University of Nevada, Reno have licensed a new diagnostic test through IMMY for early detection of cryptococcosis, a fungal meningitis that causes AIDS-related deaths in developing countries. The CrAg Lateral Flow Assay is now available globally, enabling immediate treatment and saving hundreds of thousands of lives.
The Biophysical Society has announced 2012 CPOW Travel Award winners, recognizing postdoctoral female researchers presenting at the conference. The award aims to increase participation of women in biophysics.
Researchers in Canada have developed a technique to produce large quantities of endoderm cells from human pluripotent stem cells, overcoming a key hurdle in regenerative medicine. The method allows for significant increases in effective cell production, enabling the potential for regenerative treatments for diabetes and liver disease.
Rutgers University has received a $10 million grant to explore the genetic and environmental factors leading to alcoholism. The four-year study will collect saliva samples from over 46,000 individuals across the US and conduct DNA extraction and genotyping to identify risk factors.
Researchers create square arrays of highly reproductive three-dimensional silicon oxide nanodots in seconds, opening the door for biosensors and genomics applications. They used atmospheric pressure plasma-enhanced chemical vapour deposition to achieve precise ordering of nanodots on an array.
Sulfomucins, secreted by intestinal goblet cells, provide critical protection to the intestinal mucosa. Inflammatory cues from microbes and host inflammatory cells modulate sulfomucin production, which is associated with both inflammatory bowel disease and colorectal cancer.
Researchers propose taxing food processing ingredients to reduce calories in sugary foods and make the tax more effective and less disruptive to consumers
Researchers have found a natural dye from lichens that reduces the abundance of small toxic protein aggregates in Alzheimer's disease, promoting their conversion into large non-toxic plaques. Further studies are needed to determine its effectiveness for therapy development and potential benefits for patients.
Researchers at Joslin Diabetes Center have identified a critical diagnostic marker that differentiates type 1 from type 2 diabetes in young Asian Americans, highlighting the importance of insulin resistance. The study also found physical differences in Asian patients with diabetes that should inform treatment recommendations.
A Caltech-led team of astronomers has discovered 18 new planets orbiting massive stars, with masses similar to Jupiter's. The findings provide valuable insights into planetary formation and support the theory that planets grow from seed particles accumulating gas and dust in a disk surrounding a newborn star.
The Jefferson Sciences Associates (JSA) Initiatives Fund has awarded over $380,000 of the $450,000 to support education and outreach programs at the Jefferson Lab. The fund also supports postdoc career development, user initiatives, and several topical science meetings.
A large-scale study found that a costly intervention programme designed to reduce early retirement had no measurable effect. The programme aimed to help participants adopt a healthier lifestyle and manage stress, but it did not improve perceived health outcomes.
Climate-smart agriculture encourages tree-based farming systems to reduce deforestation and promote carbon sequestration. By improving farmers' incomes, it can enhance food security and mitigate climate change through greenhouse gas emission reductions.
A study published in The American Journal of Industrial Medicine found that WTC first responders suffer from asthma at more than twice the rate of the general U.S. population, with rates doubling between 2002 and 2005. Researchers tracked 20,834 responders who received medical screenings from 2002 to 2007, comparing their results to US...
Scientists successfully transitioned fundamental research in autonomy to undersea gliders, demonstrating improved decision-making capabilities without human intervention. The new algorithm enables robots to collect more information and adjust their paths autonomously.
A study by researchers at UCLA and RAND Corp. found that children's hospitals in California served largely unhealthy food, with only 7% of entrees rated as healthy. The average score for the 16 hospital food venues was 19.1 on a scale of 0 to 37.
Neuromyelitis optica (NMO) is an inflammatory autoimmune disease that damages optic nerves and spinal cord. Mayo Clinic researchers have identified critical steps leading to myelin destruction, which could lead to better diagnosis and treatment of the disease.
The Einstein-Montefiore site is one of only 25 federally-funded centers in the country, facilitating Phase II clinical trials for rare neurological diseases. The center aims to streamline logistics and provide research expertise, reducing study initiation time from years to months.
The Optical Society published a Focus Issue on Liquid Crystal Materials for Photonic Applications, showcasing breakthroughs in reversible phototuning of lasing frequency and polymer-stabilized blue-phase liquid crystals. These advancements have significant implications for next-generation displays and optical devices.
Researchers Richard Saltus and Richard Blakely presented examples of unique interpretations from 'non-unique' models, combining observations to narrow down theoretical solutions. This approach successfully solves important geological issues, such as detailed images of fault zones.
Researchers found that probiotic treatment increased interferon levels and reduced the number of infections in ICU patients. Probiotics also helped to shift the balance of the immune system, reducing Th2-associated factors and promoting a healthier response.