The ARVO Foundation for Eye Research has awarded $40,000 fellowships to Balamurali K. Ambati and Stephen H. Tsang to conduct age-related macular degeneration (AMD) research. The fellowships aim to develop therapeutics and personalized medicine approaches for AMD.
Researchers at the Max Planck Institute for Astrophysics have created a high-precision map of the Milky Way's magnetic field using radio observations from over 30 researchers and 41,000 measurements. The map reveals both large-scale and small-scale features of the Galactic magnetic field, including turbulence in the gas.
A study published in Perspectives on Psychological Science suggests that silence about memories can lead to selective forgetting, where certain memories are more easily forgotten than others. For example, if someone discusses a happy memory but not an unhappy one, they may have trouble recalling the unmentioned sad memory.
A new study by Stanford researchers found that decreasing the time spent walking to fetch clean water can help reduce under-five mortality rates and prevent nutrition-depleting diarrhea. Cutting walking time by just 15 minutes can lead to an 11% reduction in child mortality and a 41% decrease in diarrhea prevalence.
A team of researchers at New York University's Courant Institute of Mathematical Sciences has developed a method to test the efficacy of genome sequencing technologies. The study, published in PLOS ONE, employed a feature-response curve procedure to evaluate the accuracy of various assembly algorithms and shotgun approaches. While some...
A new study by the American Heart Association found that combining clopidogrel with aspirin for stroke prevention in patients with subcortical strokes may increase the risk of bleeding and death. The trial involved over 3,000 patients and showed that there was no difference in stroke recurrence between treatment arms.
Researchers developed Meta!Blast, a 3D video game that teaches cell biology to students. The game simulates a plant crisis and requires players to shrink to microscopic size to rescue lost scientists and save the world.
A new editorial aims to clarify drug and alcohol addiction terminology by defining current treatments' modes of action and targets. The authors suggest that a better understanding of these elements would aid in the development of more effective treatments, particularly for opioid and tobacco addictions.
Researchers developed a minimally invasive treatment to dissolve brain blood clots, increasing patients' independence by 10-15% six months post-procedure. The technique reduces the need for craniotomy surgery and is as safe as supportive therapy.
A new study found that breastfeeding improves lung function at school age, particularly in children of asthmatic mothers. Breastfed children showed significant improvements in forced mid-expiratory flow and vital capacity, but not in peak expiratory flow rates.
Researchers found that rats given daily multivitamin and mineral supplements showed an 84% reduction in pre-cancerous lesions and did not develop tumors when exposed to carcinogens. The study suggests that regular supplement use could help protect against colon cancer, giving cancer patients valuable guidance.
A new stent procedure has shown remarkably positive results in how patients recover from strokes, with 56% of participants experiencing an excellent neurological outcome compared to 33% with traditional methods. The study also found a significant reduction in mortality rates among those who underwent the new procedure.
A new study found that when combining a placebo with a distracting memory task, participants experienced increased pain reduction without cognitive interference. This challenges the theory that the placebo effect relies on high-level cognitive functions like working memory and attention.
A Scripps Institution of Oceanography study reveals that corals exposed to cold temperatures suffer greater growth impairment and measurable damage compared to those subjected to heat. However, corals are able to adjust to cool conditions over time, whereas prolonged heat stress leads to severe bleaching and growth stoppage.
Astronomers use gravitational lensing to study a vigorously forming galaxy, revealing regions of intense star formation. The team aims to analyze these star-forming regions through spectroscopy to understand their formation mechanisms.
The CERES instrument has begun scanning Earth, providing a long-term record of the energy balance and helping scientists understand climate change. The satellite's data will aid in monitoring minute changes in the Earth's energy budget, which is critical for understanding how human activities impact the planet.
Engineers at Johns Hopkins University are using high-speed video cameras to study butterfly flight and develop more agile micro aerial vehicles (MAVs) for reconnaissance and search-and-rescue missions. Their research reveals that changes in spatial distribution of mass associated with wing flapping play a crucial role in insect flight,...
A new NIH study reveals that resveratrol's health benefits come from inhibiting phosphodiesterases (PDEs), not directly activating sirtuin 1. This finding may pave the way for resveratrol-based medicines and offer alternative treatments for diseases like type 2 diabetes, Alzheimer's disease, and heart disease.
A recent study by researchers at NESCent found that larger plant size can lead to bigger, more plentiful blooms, but accounting for overall size differences is crucial in detecting tradeoffs. The study tested three hypotheses and concluded that flower size-number tradeoffs are harder to spot due to various reasons.
New research from the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation reveals that more than 1.2 million people died from malaria worldwide in 2010, with 42% of those deaths occurring in older children and adults. The study found that anti-malaria drugs and insecticide-treated bed nets have driven a rapid decline in mortality rates.
Researchers have discovered new mechanisms by which RNA drugs can control gene activity, including binding to Argonaute proteins and other forms of non-coding RNAs. This breakthrough provides exciting new options for targeting emerging forms of non-coding RNAs and pre-mRNAs.
Researchers recommend a stop-and-go approach to balance oxaliplatin dose with neurological side effects, maximizing effectiveness while minimizing harm. Supplements such as calcium and magnesium may mitigate drug damage, improving patient outcomes.
A team of researchers at the University of Dundee has identified fexinidazole as a possible new treatment for visceral leishmaniasis, a disease affecting 500,000 people in Africa, Asia, and Latin America. The drug showed a greater than 98% rate of suppressing infection in mice, comparable to current treatments.
Researchers found high triglyceride levels strongly predict ischemic stroke in postmenopausal women, exceeding the risk associated with cholesterol levels. The study analyzed data from over 900 women who experienced strokes, revealing a nearly two-fold increased risk for those in the highest triglyceride quartile.
Scientists have discovered a 20-million-year-old fossil of a bat fly, which has been entombed in amber and preserved its details. The find reveals that bat flies have been parasitizing bats for at least half as long as the mammal group has existed.
Research published in Hepatology found that moderate coffee consumption decreases the risk of advanced fibrosis in NASH patients. The study also showed a significant correlation between coffee intake and reduced risk of hepatic fibrosis, particularly among patients with NASH stage 0-1.
Researchers at the University of Washington have advanced a technique called metagenomics, allowing them to single out a marine microorganism and map its genome even though it comprised only 7 percent of a water sample. The resulting genome offers hints that Euryarchaeota might serve as a cleanup crew after diatoms bloom and die.
Researchers found early childhood growth influences adult bone density, with significant contributions from birth size and height growth. Childhood nutrition plays a crucial role in preventing adult bone disease like osteoporosis.
Researchers Dr. Allen W. Wilhite and Dr. Eric A. Fong found that journal editors coerce authors into adding unnecessary citations to articles in the same journal for increased ranking and prestige. The study analyzed 6,672 responses from researchers in various fields, revealing a widespread practice among editors.
Researchers at the University of Manchester have created a transistor that may prove graphene's potential as the next silicon for computer chips. The new device uses a vertical direction and exploits graphene's unique features to overcome current leakage issues.
The ICTP South American Institute for Fundamental Research (ICTP-SAIFR) will focus on areas like gravitation, particle physics, and field theory. The center will host visiting researchers, organize schools and workshops for PhD students, and hire permanent professors to promote scientific excellence in South America.
Researchers are tapping into photosynthesis to efficiently produce highly valuable products, including biofuels and pharmaceuticals. This innovative approach could lead to a more sustainable future by utilizing sunlight as a renewable energy source.
Cell biologists have identified key steps in how small molecules alter a cell's skeletal shape and drive cell movement. By manipulating the cell membrane, researchers created ruffles that helped pull cells across surfaces, a process previously difficult to recreate.
Millisecond pulsars lose half of their rotational energy during mass-transfer process, explaining apparent age paradox and absence of sub-millisecond radio pulsars. This result is in agreement with current observations and helps resolve the 'turn-off' problem in stellar astrophysics.
A University of Innsbruck study found that interventions to promote women in competition increased their participation rates, particularly among highly qualified women. The experiment showed no negative impact on teamwork or efficiency.
Researchers caution against relying solely on computerized neuropsychological tests (CNT) to determine when athletes can safely return to play after a concussion. The tests may not accurately measure an athlete's brain function and could lead to premature return, posing risks such as chronic traumatic encephalopathy and death.
A new DNA-based prenatal blood test can identify pregnancies with Down syndrome, Edwards syndrome (trisomy 18), and Patau syndrome (trisomy 13). The test was found to be highly effective in detecting these conditions, with a detection rate of 100% for trisomy 18 and 91.7% for trisomy 13.
A recent study published in The Endocrine Society's Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism found that intermittent exercise with low oxygen concentrations significantly improves glycemic control in patients with type 2 diabetes. Exercise under hypoxic conditions provides greater improvements than intermittent exercise alone.
Researchers at Sanford-Burnham identified a molecular switch, controlled by protein kinase C-epsilon, that enables melanoma cells to resist chemotherapy. High levels of PKC-epsilon in melanoma are associated with poor prognosis and increased tumor-promoting activity.
A recent study found that the STAT3 gene is activated in some non-small cell lung cancer cell lines by the JAK2 protein, which may not be effectively inhibited by drugs targeting specific mutations. This suggests a potential role for combination therapy to combat NSCLC driven by STAT3-JAK2 signaling.
A new study from Rice University and Clemson University found that hand counting of votes can result in error rates of up to 2 percent, emphasizing the importance of well-specified manual auditing procedures. The research also showed that division of labor among group counting members can help reduce errors.
Monocytes are extremely sensitive to reactive oxygen species (ROS), while macrophages and dendritic cells derived from monocytes are resistant due to their defective DNA repair mechanisms. This sensitivity may play a role in regulating the immune response and preventing excessive ROS production.
Researchers developed a highly sensitive blood test for detecting and analyzing circulating tumor cells (CTCs) in cancer patients. The 'biopsy in a blood test' provides information comparable to surgical biopsies, enabling better monitoring, prediction, and understanding of cancer progression.
Researchers will monitor the Cascadia subduction zone's strain buildup using a new seafloor geodesy observatory. This data will aid in modeling fault slip and predicting tsunami heights, ultimately informing city planners and emergency response managers.
Researchers found a significant association between chronically elevated glucose levels and minute levels of troponin T, a blood marker for heart damage. The high-sensitivity test detected low levels of cTnT in 66% of the study population, suggesting potential pathways for diabetes-related heart disease.
Researchers at the Max Planck Institute for Chemical Ecology have successfully silenced insect genes in a high-throughput manner using plant-mediated RNA interference. By targeting specific genes, such as CYP6B46, the scientists demonstrated that the gene silencing worked with high specificity and no collateral damage.
Researchers found that rituximab, a monoclonal antibody, was safe and effective in reducing liver damage in PBC patients who had an incomplete response to UDCA therapy. The study showed significant reductions in alkaline phosphatase levels and anti-mitochondrial antibodies after treatment.
Different subgroups of non-small cell lung cancer exhibit distinct patterns of spread in the body, suggesting fundamentally different diseases. Targeted therapies have shown dramatic clinical responses in patients with ALK positive NSCLC, offering new hope for treatment.
Researchers found that genetic and morphological traits were influenced by both natural selection and founder effects in castaway lizards. The study shows how these mechanisms interact with each other, resulting in differences between populations adapting to new environments.
A recent study conducted by Mayo Clinic researchers has found that young children who are exposed to anesthesia multiple times before the age of three have a higher risk of developing attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). The study, which utilized data from the Rochester Epidemiology Project, found that children with two or ...
A new analysis of hundreds of doctor-patient visits found that physicians and nurse practitioners frequently use lecturing and ordering instead of engaging in open-ended discussions to address medication non-adherence. Problem-solving conversations were rare, even among patients who acknowledged lapses in adherence.
Prevention strategies that included ultrasound screening and chronic blood transfusions for children with sickle cell anemia led to a significant decrease in racial disparities in stroke-related deaths. This change occurred after the Stroke Prevention Trial in Sickle Cell Anemia (STOP) was implemented in 1998.
Research suggests that erratic heart rhythms, particularly paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (PAF), contribute to about one-fifth of unexplained strokes. Patients with stroke of unknown origin may benefit from extended monitoring and treatment with medications like dabigatran and rivaroxaban.
A UCSF team has identified genes that influence male and female behaviors, such as sex drive and nurturing behavior, which can be manipulated individually. The study suggests complex behaviors like autism may be broken down into component parts to better understand and treat disorders.
Graham Johnson's entry, a collaboration with colleagues, won first place in the video category for its visualization of complex 3D data sets. The winning tool enables scientists to compare parameters of complicated structures at a glance.
Researchers discovered that rivaroxaban, a new anti-clotting drug, is less likely to cause brain bleeding in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) who are at high risk of stroke. The study found five risk factors that increase the likelihood of AF patients experiencing intracranial bleeding.
A recent study published in Stroke journal found that high triglyceride levels are a stronger predictor of stroke risk in postmenopausal women than previously thought. Researchers analyzed data from over 90,000 women and discovered that those with the highest triglyceride levels were nearly twice as likely to suffer an ischemic stroke.
A study led by Uppsala University reveals that structural modifications of DNA are duplicated or lost more commonly in older individuals. This may explain the impaired immune system with age. The researchers found large rearrangements in blood cells of people over 60, as well as smaller changes in younger individuals.
Research reveals severe anemia in stroke patients can lead to a higher risk of death, with patients experiencing increased mortality rates after six to twelve months. Anemia is measured by hematocrit levels, and moderate to mild cases also show elevated mortality risks.
Invasive crane fly species threaten northeast US sod industry quality and shipment safety. Recommended IPM strategies include monitoring, cultural management, and chemical control to prevent infestations.