Kansas State University professor Matthias Kling has received a $750,000 award to study electron dynamics in nanostructures with strong laser fields. His research could lead to speeding up electrons by a factor of 100,000, improving communication technology.
A study by University of Rhode Island oceanographers and colleagues found drastically lower values for total biomass in marine sediments, reducing the estimated mass of all life on Earth by about one-third. The researchers collected sediment cores from open-ocean areas to obtain more accurate data.
A CNIO team has created a transgenic mouse model that simulates aplastic anaemia in humans. The model shows the link between telomere impairment and bone marrow failure.
A recent study published in Icarus proposes a new perspective on the Moon's formation, suggesting a 'hit-and-run' Giant Impact scenario that resolves the Lunar Paradox. The research explores alternative collision geometries and impact velocities, which could provide a solution to the paradox and shed light on the Moon's origins.
Researchers have identified how immature immune cells respond to the influenza virus and traced the path to generate antibodies that can neutralize a wide range of strains. This understanding could aid in designing a universal flu vaccine that provides protection against most or all influenza virus strains.
The US performs worst on potentially preventable death rates compared to France, Germany, and the UK, with slower progress in improving healthcare. Despite higher healthcare spending, the US has made less progress in reducing preventable deaths among men and women under 65.
The Aspirin-clopidogrel trial found that the combination did not offer significant benefits for stroke prevention in patients with lacunar strokes. Instead, it increased the risk of gastrointestinal bleeding. Meanwhile, overall stroke risk has decreased by more than three-fold over the past decade.
Tropical Storm Kirk is strengthening due to powerful thunderstorms and will likely turn into a hurricane over the weekend, according to NASA infrared imagery.
Hurricane Isaac made two landfalls in southeastern Louisiana, causing widespread flooding due to its slow movement and intense energy from warm Gulf waters. The storm also brought isolated tornadoes as it moved inland, posing a significant threat to the region.
Researchers created digital organisms in Avida to study mate attraction, finding that even costless displays evolved as indicators of genetic quality. This challenges traditional theories on ornamental displays serving as signals for virility.
Tropical Storm Bolaven made landfall on Aug. 28, moving quickly over land while transitioning into an ex-tropical storm. NASA's Terra satellite captured the remnants of Bolaven mostly centered over eastern China.
A new study provides unprecedented detail on the history of the carbonate compensation depth (CCD) in the Pacific Ocean over the past 55 million years. The CCD, which fluctuates with climate change, reveals five intervals of fluctuation during the 'greenhouse' world and at least four major excursions in the last 20 million years.
A new 'traffic light' test can diagnose liver fibrosis and cirrhosis in high-risk populations more easily than current methods. The test provides a color-coded system, with red indicating scarring, green indicating no cirrhosis, and amber indicating a 50:50 chance of scarring.
A European registry study found that TAVI valves were mainly used on patients over 80 years old with comorbidities, resulting in a high risk of complications and mortality. The study also showed significant differences in procedural approaches and post-procedure care across countries.
A new study finds that microorganisms may convert old organic matter to methane under oxygen-deprived conditions in sedimentary basins beneath the Antarctic Ice Sheet. This could lead to significant methane release if the ice sheet shrinks, exacerbating global climate change.
A nationwide Finnish study found that women who had three or more induced abortions before a first birth have a higher risk of delivering a baby prematurely and with low birth weight. The risk increases with each additional abortion, but the overall increase is small.
Next-generation diagnostic tests can identify specific diseases and determine if chemotherapy is working, enabling doctors to make better treatment decisions. These tests could reduce unnecessary procedures, prescriptions, and hospital stays, ultimately saving the US healthcare system billions of dollars annually.
Coral scientists have developed a simplified method for measuring coral reef resilience, prioritizing heat-resistant coral species and background temperature variability. The new model offers a cost-effective tool for conservation planning, but further research is needed to evaluate its priority and types of corals required.
Researchers used an experimental cancer drug to treat abnormal brain cell growth in mice with neurofibromatosis 1. The study showed that early treatment can prevent learning disabilities in these children by promoting normal neural stem cell development.
The article highlights advancements in biomass characterization technology to overcome recalcitrance issues in lignocellulosic biomass. Researchers share their work and perspectives on improving methods for analyzing biomass chemistry, structure, and interaction.
A study suggests that influenza can be transmitted before symptoms appear in ferrets, a model commonly used for flu research. The findings have significant implications for pandemic planning strategies and the control of epidemics.
A $1.2 million grant will support a program providing HPV vaccine to hundreds of low-income women at UTMB's healthcare services, addressing barriers such as lack of awareness and limited access. The initiative aims to increase vaccination rates among Hispanic women at high risk for cervical cancer.
Researchers at University of Missouri have developed a new cancer drug with exceptional potency, outperforming current treatments by 10 times. The carborane-based drug efficiently targets energy production in cancer cells, minimizing side effects and increasing therapy effectiveness.
Researchers found evidence that a feathered, but flightless dinosaur, Sinocalliopteryx, was able to snag and consume small flying dinosaurs. The fossilized remains of three Confuciusornis were found in the belly of Sinocalliopteryx, revealing its voracious eating habits.
Researchers created a synthetic protein that binds to degraded collagen, which is often damaged by disease. This protein can detect cancerous cells, arthritis, and other diseases in the body. The technique may lead to new diagnostic imaging technology and treatment options.
The ESC has launched a new acute cardiovascular care association, expanding its scope to cover the entire first seven days of acute cardiovascular disease. The association aims to improve quality of care through an integrated patient-oriented approach.
A new study found that individual investors' decisions are primarily motivated by their beliefs about a stock's future rather than their feelings toward losses and gains. Investors act on their beliefs to speculate on stock prices, suggesting that the 'disposition effect' may be driven more by complex reasons than emotions.
Research finds that coral reefs' ability to adapt to environmental changes is linked to the number and variety of single-celled algae they host. Inflexible corals, which host a single type of algae, are more resistant to stress than flexible corals, which host multiple types.
The PRAGUE-12 trial revealed that surgical ablation using the MAZE procedure significantly improves sinus rhythm presence one year post-operatively among patients with permanent AF. However, it had no impact on mortality, stroke or other hard clinical outcomes during a one-year follow-up.
The Lao government announces a dramatic shift in its land policy, prioritizing local land management and granting significant rights to rural households. This move aims to address land disputes and alleviate poverty, following international best practices from countries like China and Nepal.
Tropical Storm Bolaven is generating heavy rainfall and has been causing concern for flooding as it makes landfall in North Korea and southeastern China. The storm's cloud cover was extensive, blanketing the region with heavy precipitation rates greater than 75 mm/hr.
A recent University of Colorado Cancer Center case study found a patient with ALK+ lung cancer who tested negative for the EML4-ALK fusion gene using the FDA-approved FISH assay, yet showed dramatic response to crizotinib. Next-gen sequencing revealed genetic shards that may have avoided detection by the test.
The study found that TAVI leads to significant improvements in health-related quality of life, including increased mobility and reduced discomfort, for patients with severe aortic stenosis. Patients reported remarkable increases in self-rated quality of life scores after TAVI procedure.
Astronomers discover the first transiting circumbinary multi-planet system, Kepler-47, which contains two planets orbiting around a pair of stars. The inner planet is the smallest known transiting circumbinary planet and orbits every 49 days, while the outer planet orbits every 303 days and is in the habitable zone.
The RECLOSE 2-ACS study found that approximately 20% of patients had a high platelet reactivity to aspirin and were nonresponders. These patients had a significantly higher prevalence of an ischemic event or cardiac death at the 2 year follow-up.
The Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation's Patient Care Program aims to improve healthcare by engaging patients and their families, reducing costs, and increasing patient safety. The program focuses on eliminating all preventable harms to adult patients in acute-care settings and reconfiguring clinical processes, care teams, and technolog...
Medical humanitarian organizations face a clash of values with the mining industry, posing difficult alliances and challenges to intervene in areas occupied by extractive sectors. The article explores the consequences of environmental pollution, communicable diseases, violence, destitution, and compromised food security.
Astronomers have discovered the first multi-planet system orbiting a binary star, characterized by the University of Texas at Austin's McDonald Observatory. The system, Kepler-47, features an outer planet within the habitable zone, where liquid water could exist.
Patients with stable coronary artery disease who have at least one narrowed blood vessel benefit from early stent placement, reducing hospitalization and urgent revascularization needs. The study used fractional flow reserve to identify eligible patients, which significantly reduces the risk of adverse events.
Tropical Storm Isaac is expected to make landfall in the US Gulf Coast, bringing storm surge and heavy rainfall. NASA satellites are providing critical data for forecasters to track the storm's progress.
Improved treatment and management of acute myocardial infarction have led to significant reductions in 30-day mortality, from 12.9% to 3.9%, and in-hospital complications. The analysis suggests that the declines are due to both increased use of recommended interventions and earlier use of medications.
The CORE320 study demonstrated that combined non-invasive CT angiography and myocardial perfusion imaging has robust diagnostic accuracy for identifying patients with flow-limiting coronary artery disease. The addition of CTP increased diagnostic power, allowing clinicians to distinguish between anatomic and flow-limiting stenoses.
A new study finds that post-menopausal women's eating behaviors associated with short-term weight loss are not effective or sustainable for the long term. Strategies such as increasing fruit and vegetable consumption, and decreasing meat and cheese intake, may improve long-term weight loss outcomes.
Patients with clopidogrel non-responsiveness had a higher risk of stent thrombosis and acute coronary syndrome. Personalized antiplatelet treatment using platelet function testing shows promise in reducing ischemic events without increasing bleeding risks.
Researchers identified protein cyclin D3 as regulating RBC production, affecting size and quantity. The protein's role was confirmed through experiments on mouse and human cells, shedding light on the control of RBC characteristics.
In a surprising discovery, male marine whelks carry the eggs of other males on their backs, with only one in four belonging to them. This unusual behavior provides insight into the complex family dynamics of these snails.
A research team found that infants' cortisol levels rise after waking up, with shorter pregnancies linked to lower cortisol rises. This new method could lead to diagnosing illnesses in hormone-producing organs and understanding the stress system's development in humans.
Research from the SPICI study found that adhering to a heart-healthy lifestyle in combination with drug treatment after an acute myocardial infarction treated with coronary artery balloon intervention (PCI) can lead to significant reductions in new cardiac events. The study estimated that preventing 300 to 400 cardiac events annually c...
A new imaging technique called near-field thermoacoustics has the potential to benefit medical practitioners and biology researchers. The technique uses harmless electromagnetic radiation to create high-contrast images of normal tissues, tumors, and other pathological changes.
A new ultra-sensitive biosensor can identify single virus particles in solution, revolutionizing early disease detection. The technique detects smaller viruses like Polio and antibody proteins, which could diagnose diseases earlier and speed up treatment.
A new University of Virginia study found little to no correlation between pretend play and children's mental development. However, researchers did find evidence that it contributes to language, storytelling, social development, and self-regulation.
A Mayo Clinic study found that exercise can reduce cancer recurrence by up to 50 percent in breast and colon cancer patients. However, many patients are reluctant to exercise due to lack of awareness about its benefits.
Ants use an algorithm to determine how many foragers to send out based on food availability, similar to internet protocols discovering available bandwidth. The discovery could inform the design of networked systems with ant-inspired algorithms.
A recent study by UCLA researchers found that beetle diversity exceeds that of crocodiles, contradicting the long-held theory that older lineages produce more species. The team proposes that adaptive zones, which determine a lineage's ecological limit, play a crucial role in shaping species richness.
Researchers found that postoperative gastrointestinal complications, infections, and sepsis carry the highest risk of hospital readmission. Patients with multiple complications are four times more likely to be readmitted than those with none. A reduction in these complications can significantly decrease readmission rates and financial ...
The FAME 2 trial found that FFR-guided PCI plus optimal medical therapy significantly reduced the need for urgent revascularisation and hospital readmission in patients with stable coronary artery disease. The study also showed a lower risk of primary endpoint events, including death and heart attack.
Researchers at the University of Illinois's Beckman Institute used periodic visual stimuli and EEG recordings to demonstrate that the brain's natural oscillations can be precisely timed to future repetitions of an event. This entrainment leads to a heightened visual awareness of the next event, improving processing in critical environm...
Six CAMH researchers have received NARSAD Young Investigator Grants to investigate biological factors underlying schizophrenia, bipolar disorder and suicidal behaviour. The grants will fund research using advanced genetics, brain stimulation and brain imaging techniques, promising new treatments.
Scientists tracked shuttle exhaust to study atmospheric winds and polar mesospheric clouds. The plume spread faster than expected, forming unusual bright high-altitude clouds near the Arctic.
A recent study by the European Society of Cardiology has found that women with severe aortic stenosis experience lower mortality rates after transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI), with a 40% reduced risk compared to men. Despite higher risks of procedural complications, women outperformed men in terms of mortality.