A global study of real-world circumcision rollout in South Africa found a marked reduction (>60 percent) of HIV acquisition among circumcised adult men. This is the first time such a large-scale community-level intervention has shown effectiveness in curbing HIV transmission.
Researchers from Northwestern University have discovered a brain chemical, Substance P, that causes abnormal bone growth in injured muscles. This discovery offers a potential molecular target for preventing and treating heterotopic ossification.
Scientists have developed a genetic map of African-Americans, revealing distinct recombination patterns that differ from those in Europeans. The map holds promise for understanding the roots of disease and identifying new disease genes, particularly in African-American populations.
Research found that taller individuals are at higher risk of various cancers, including breast, ovary, and bowel cancers. The study suggests that increases in population height may explain changes in cancer incidence over time.
Case Western Reserve University researchers developed a new computer modeling method that accurately predicts how peripheral nerve axons respond to electrical stimuli, slashing the process from weeks to just seconds.
Researchers at the University of Minnesota have developed a new strategy to improve the development of induced pluripotent stem cells (iPS) by fusing two proteins. This approach increases efficiency and purity, decreases tumor formation risk, and simplifies the process, making it more feasible for human transplantation.
A study analyzed data from 844 individuals with early-stage Multiple Sclerosis and found that disease-modifying drugs provide modest health gains, but their cost is more than 8 times higher than considered reasonable. The study's authors highlight the need to reevaluate treatment costs to control healthcare expenses.
A team of researchers led by Michigan State University's Hakan Yildiz developed a complex method to schedule Major League Baseball umpires, resulting in more balanced schedules and fewer violations. The approach has been used successfully by MLB for five of the past six seasons, improving travel rules and restrictions.
A Tel Aviv University researcher says current testing for pharmaceutical waste isn't going far enough, as drugs can break down into different forms and still be present in the environment. The researcher has identified nine degradation products of a common antibiotic, including two potentially toxic compounds.
Researchers at Wayne State University are investigating the link between toxicity of fatty acids and obesity-diabetes connection. They're developing sensors to visualize fatty acid production and signaling in live cells, aiming to create new anti-obesity therapeutics.
A triple-header of tropical cyclones was captured by the GOES-13 satellite on July 20, including System 99L, Tropical Storm Bret, and Hurricane Dora. System 99L is showing signs of organization and potential to become a tropical depression in the next 48 hours.
Despite their role in toppling Hosni Mubarak, Egyptian liberals struggle to organize and gain support from the general public. The lack of a unified platform and leadership is hindering their efforts, particularly in rural areas where access to the Internet is limited.
A monitoring and testing program has consistently shown amounts of toxic substances in Gulf seafood 100-1,000 times smaller than health concerns. Safety monitoring continues despite lingering concerns among scientists and consumers.
A mouse model of focal dermal hypoplasia has been developed to study the cause of a rare human birth defect and its relation to the Wnt signaling pathway. The model reveals the essential role of PORCN in embryonic development and highlights the disorder's connection to cancer research.
The American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO) has awarded five physicians with research grants to support their career development and research in radiation oncology. This year's winners include Abhijit Patel, MD, PhD, and David Kozono, MD, PhD, who will receive a $100,000 award over two years.
Researchers have developed a mathematical framework that can turn road vibrations and airport runway noise into electrical energy. By altering the shape of grain-to-grain contact areas between particles, it is possible to change how energy moves, allowing for controllable energy channeling.
Landsat satellites have been monitoring the Missouri River for extended periods, showing heavy rains and snowmelt causing prolonged flooding. The USGS WaterWatch website provides real-time streamflow data, highlighting the devastating impact of the flood on the region.
The discovery of Acristavus gagslarsoni, a non-crested hadrosaur, reveals that two distinct styles of headgear evolved independently. The fossils found in different locations suggest earlier species roamed over a larger region of North America.
Researchers create ultra-portable electronic devices by connecting molecular components using conductive nanowires. The breakthrough enables cheaper, higher-performance alternatives to conventional silicon-based devices.
Dr. Ed Ruthazer's study shows that environmental stimulation enhances visual acuity and refines nerve cell connections in developing brains. The research identifies molecular mechanisms underlying the changes, including the activation of Brain Derived Neurotrophic Factor (BDNF), which plays a key role in plasticity.
A new UCSF study reveals that brain surgery can completely cure two-thirds of people with severe and untreatable epilepsy, highlighting the importance of accurate brain mapping in achieving successful outcomes. The study's findings also underscore the need for further research into developing new methods to pinpoint seizure sources.
A study by the University of Minnesota found that full moons increase lion attacks on humans in Tanzania, with most attacks occurring between dusk and 10pm. The research suggests that lions are hungrier after a full moon due to limited hunting success under daylight conditions.
A Temple University study found that urban residents' rates of borrowing prescription medication were comparable to the national average, challenging stereotypes about lower socioeconomic groups. The majority of borrowed medications were for convenience and obtained from friends or family members.
A new breed of chicken, Kuroiler, has been found to significantly outperform native chickens in terms of survival rate, egg production, and body weight gain. This hybrid chicken is well-suited for resource-poor village environments and requires minimal feed, making it an attractive option for rural farmers.
The investigational amyloid imaging agent [18F]Flutemetamol showed highly consistent image interpretation and comparable in vitro binding to Pittsburgh Compound-B, according to recent clinical research data. Flutemetamol is being studied for the detection of beta amyloid using PET brain scans.
A recent study by Rovira i Virgili University reveals that only 20% of recorded climate information is accessible to the scientific community. The remaining data, dating back centuries, pose significant challenges for understanding climate variations and tackling global warming.
David J. Friedman, MD, a clinician and researcher at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, has received a three-year Clinical Scientist Development Award from the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation. The award will support his research into the genetic factors that lead to kidney disease in African Americans.
A well-preserved, 96-million-year-old fossil snout discovered in Texas indicates that the prehistoric crocodile Terminonaris originated in the Lone Star State and North America. The find, which is the oldest of its kind worldwide, provides new insights into the group's wider distribution range and age.
A comprehensive whole sequence variation map of rhesus macaque has been published, providing a valuable resource for evolutionary and biomedical research. The study identified 5.5 million SNPs and 125,150 structural variations, including annotated nonsynonymous SNPs related to human disease and drug-target genes.
A research team led by the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution determined what chemicals were contained in a deep, hydrocarbon-containing plume in the Gulf of Mexico. The plume was found to be 22 miles long and comprised mainly of BTEX compounds, with concentrations significantly higher than background levels.
Two NASA satellites confirmed Tropical Storm Bret's heaviest rainfall on the eastern side of the storm, with one satellite measuring powerful thunderstorms. The storms' strength was indicated by cloud-top temperatures measured by the Atmospheric Infrared Sounder.
Researchers at Duke University Medical Center have developed a molecule that blocks the damaging actions of Chlamydia by disarming its self-defense mechanisms. The therapy will disarm CPAF, a central weapon of Chlamydia, allowing the body to take care of the rest and ultimately lead to the death of the infected cell and the bacteria.
Researchers have identified three cytochrome P450s in honey bee midguts that detoxify tau-fluvalinate and coumaphos, potentially allowing bees to coexist with these pesticides. This discovery may lead to the development of less toxic mite control methods.
Professor Achim Hartschuh at LMU Munich has been awarded a highly endowed EU Starting Grant for his project on new tools for nanoscale optical spectroscopy. He aims to develop innovative methods for optical microscopy and study the physical and chemical behavior of nanostructures.
Researchers focus on HIV cure research, highlighting the need for proactive outreach programs to prevent transmission in injecting drug users. The conference also emphasizes the importance of improving maternal and child health in sub-Saharan Africa and Southeast Asia.
A new study examines the cost-effectiveness of MS drugs in the US, finding that they come at a high cost compared to basic therapy and other chronic diseases. The research suggests that reducing medication prices by 67% could improve the cost-benefit ratio and support earlier disease-modifying therapy.
A study found that children as young as three years old share toys equally with their peers only when they collaborated to gain the rewards. However, this behavior did not extend to individual or no-work conditions. In contrast, chimpanzees did not show a similar connection between sharing resources and collaborative efforts.
Bacteria Pseudomonas aeruginosa uses a toxin delivery system called Type VI secretion system (T6SS) to break down rival bacteria's protective barriers. The mechanism also helps the bacterium protect itself from its own toxins, making it a major public health concern.
A team of scientists discovered that high summer temperatures influence bill size in salt marsh sparrow species. The study found that birds with larger bills can pump blood into tissue and release heat more effectively.
Using optogenetics, researchers were able to target one cell type and influence activity of nerve cells with laser light. The study found that activation of a specific G-protein-coupled receptor changed the activity pattern of Purkinje cells, leading to motor deficits in mice.
Researchers found a material that conducts heat 100,000 times better than expected, violating the Wiedemann-Franz law. This unusual separation of electron spin and charge has potential technological implications.
Astronomers using the Hubble Space Telescope have discovered a fourth moon orbiting Pluto, the smallest discovered to date. The new moon, temporarily designated P4, was found in a survey searching for rings around Pluto and has an estimated diameter of 8-21 miles.
Researchers at the University of Minnesota have made a key discovery showing that male sex must be maintained throughout life. The study found that removing the Dmrt1 gene causes male cells in mouse testis to become female cells, highlighting the importance of active maintenance of the original sex determination decision.
Researchers have identified detectable changes in biological markers in the spinal fluid up to 20 years before dementia onset. Participants with inherited Alzheimer's mutations exhibit lower amyloid beta and higher tau protein levels in their cerebrospinal fluid, indicating potential for prevention trials.
Researchers have identified a molecular pathway affected in schizophrenia and successfully alleviated symptoms using a cancer drug. The study found that reducing p35 enzyme levels led to cognitive impairment, which was addressed by administering the cancer drug MS-275.
Theoretical work at UBC and experiments at UC Santa Barbara led to a breakthrough in predicting and controlling environmental decoherence, a major hurdle for quantum computing. The findings suggest that high magnetic fields can suppress decoherence rates, making magnetic molecules a promising candidate for quantum computing hardware.
A new clinical trial is underway to examine the efficacy of STX209, a medication that has shown promise in improving social behaviors in people with Fragile X syndrome. The trial, which includes adults and children, aims to assess the safety and tolerability of the drug in treating social withdrawal symptoms.
The Bureau of Reclamation is providing $2.7 million to study seven river basins in the western US, focusing on adaptation strategies for water supply and demand imbalances. Eight water delivery systems will also receive funding to improve water efficiency and operations.
Researchers have successfully conducted lab tests on a new vaccine formulation to combat heroin addiction, showing reduced willingness in laboratory rats to self-administer the drug. The vaccine exploits an individual's immune system to blunt heroin's psychoactive effects, offering a potential tool for combating relapse and overdose.
Researchers in Germany sequenced and analyzed a draft genome sequence of an E. coli O104:H4 strain from the 2011 outbreak, identifying a new progenitor strain. The study's rapid sequencing technique has immediate implications for surveillance, diagnostics, and future therapies.
The FASEB MARC Program has selected three travel award recipients to promote diversity in the basic science community and encourage young scientists at the 2011 SLB Meeting. The awards totaled $4,950 and aim to increase competitiveness of underrepresented minorities engaged in biomedical research.
Scientists have discovered a pretreatment method that makes plant cellulose five times more digestible by enzymes, enabling the production of ethanol from biomass. This breakthrough could make biomass an economically viable contender in the biofuels arena.
Frigid cloud top temperatures in Hurricane Dora's thunderstorms indicate their strength and power. The storm's strong convection and rapid rising air formed a large area of very cold and powerful thunderstorms around the center.
A Johns Hopkins University study found that an existing anti-seizure drug improves memory and brain function in adults with a form of cognitive impairment. The findings suggest that the drug may slow the abnormal loss of brain function in some aging patients before their condition becomes Alzheimer's.
Scientists developed a gene-based test to identify precancerous pancreatic cysts, which can help patients avoid unnecessary surgeries. The test found mutations in KRAS and GNAS genes, associated with pancreatic cancer, but not in benign cysts.
A new article models work engagement as a cyclical process, where high-quality performance boosts engagement, which in turn increases productivity. Job resources, such as social support and autonomy, are essential for worker satisfaction and workplace effectiveness.
Deep brain stimulation is a therapy approved by the FDA for certain treatment-resistant dystonias and has shown sustained benefit for up to three years. Michele Tagliati, a movement disorders expert, led an international task force that reviewed current practice and research on DBS for dystonia.
A team of researchers has captured the real-time data on a football player who broke his neck during a head-down tackle. The data provides valuable insights into the impact of spinal fractures in high school and college athletes, highlighting the need for preventive measures to reduce such injuries.
A study of Spanish Fabry disease patients found they exhibit different organ involvement patterns compared to European counterparts. Spanish patients showed a lower frequency of corneal disease and less severe symptoms, with increased deaths from infections.
Researchers at Caltech created an artificial neural network out of DNA, exhibiting brain-like behavior by recalling memories based on incomplete patterns. The DNA-based neural network consists of four artificial neurons made from 112 distinct DNA strands and demonstrated correct responses in a mind-reading game.