Scientists have successfully restored behavior in rats using a neural prosthesis after brain injury. The device, a closed-loop microelectronic system, recorded signals from one part of the brain and stimulated another to facilitate repair. Two weeks after implantation, rat models recovered nearly all function lost due to injury.
Researchers from NASA's Curiosity rover mission found evidence of a calm and fresh-watered lake on Mars that may have supported simple microbial life. The team believes the lake may have lasted for tens or hundreds of thousands of years, providing perfect conditions for chemolithoautotrophs to thrive.
The new journal Mental Health & Prevention aims to provide a platform for researchers and practitioners to present their work and keep up-to-date with the latest advances in mental health promotion. The journal will publish high-quality reviews, original research, and other papers related to prevention strategies.
Tropical Cyclone Madi is expected to make landfall in southern India on December 12. The storm's heaviest rainfall was observed north of its center, with rates reaching up to 2 inches per hour.
Researchers from Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute used underwater robots to survey a marked dump site off the coast of Southern California. The survey revealed numerous 55-gallon drums and other marine debris, but no chemical munitions were detected.
Research analyzed top-grossing children's movies from 2006-2010, finding 70% included weight-related stigmatizing content. The study also reveals that 26% of movie segments showed exaggerated portion sizes and 51% depicted unhealthy snacks.
Narrow-spectrum antibiotics, such as ampicillin and penicillin, are equally effective as broad-spectrum antibiotics in treating less severe childhood pneumonia. The study, published in Pediatrics, compared outcomes among children hospitalized with pneumonia between 2005 and 2011, receiving either narrow-spectrum or broad-spectrum antib...
A new study suggests that accelerated resolution therapy (ART) is a safe and effective treatment for combat-related psychological trauma and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) among veterans. The therapy, which combines evidence-based psychotherapies with eye movements, was found to be shorter and more likely to be completed than co...
The Radiation Assessment Detector measured radiation on Mars' surface, revealing an average GCR dose equivalent rate of 0.67 millisieverts per day. The findings also show that most mission radiation exposure will occur during outbound and return travel, posing a challenge for future human exploration.
A new clinical trial, sponsored by Cancer Research And Biostatistics (CRAB), has been launched to test innovative treatments for lung cancer. The trial, which combines efforts from frontline treating oncologists and pharmaceutical companies, aims to improve patient outcomes and extend overall survival.
Researchers at Harvard University have created a new method to quantify the mechanical forces produced by living cells, which shape tissues and organs. By injecting tiny oil droplets into 3D tissues and embryos, scientists can measure the forces exerted by individual cells, shedding light on the role of mechanics in development and dis...
In a breakthrough discovery, Rice University researchers found that free electrons in metallic and doped carbon nanotubes create plasmons at terahertz frequencies, enabling the potential for advanced optoelectronic devices. This finding clarifies the origin of the previously observed terahertz peak in nanotubes.
System 90L's chances of tropical development dismissed after hostile upper-level winds and diminished showers; no longer considered a threat by NASA. Upper-level conditions made it difficult to identify the low-pressure system, leading to its fizzling out.
A year of resistance and impact training can help older breast cancer survivors preserve bone density, even with less exercise. Muscle strength declines more quickly than bone density and may require continued participation in a supervised exercise program.
The development of UV photodetectors has been driven by numerous applications in the defense, commercial, and scientific arenas. The researchers have brought this AlxGa1-xN-based device closer to reality by developing a compact photodetector with the world's highest quantum efficiency.
A new drug-eluting contact lens has been developed to deliver latanoprost, a common glaucoma medication, continuously for a month. The lens was designed with materials approved by the FDA and achieved comparable concentrations to daily topical treatment in animal studies.
A new study by Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution researchers documents the historic sediment record along the Danube River delta and offers simple and inexpensive strategies to maintain delta environments. The team analyzed sediment cores and found that mimicking natural distributaries can help keep sediment on flood plains, rather ...
Researchers at OHSU discovered a way to use small molecules to fix misfolded proteins, allowing them to function normally again. This technique has the potential to treat diseases such as cystic fibrosis, cataracts, and Alzheimer's disease.
Researchers discovered an association between oncometabolite 2-hydroxyglutarate (2-HG) levels and DNA methylation patterns with breast cancer prognosis. Chloroquine treatment was found to limit osteoclast generation, suggesting potential therapeutic applications.
A Northwestern University study found that individuals with high self-monitoring and diverse social networks are more likely to strongly experience face threats on Facebook. People who felt they had a high level of Facebook skills reported experiencing these kinds of threats less severely.
A new technology grows cord blood stem cells in a lab before transplant, increasing survival rates by 9.6% compared to traditional methods. Patients who received the StemEx transplants engrafted faster and were less vulnerable to infections and bleeding.
A new optical sensor created at MIT can track zinc within cells, shedding light on its functions and helping researchers study zinc trafficking in prostate cells. The sensor supports the theory that cancerous prostate cells banish zinc from mitochondria to produce extra energy.
A new gene sequencing project identifies a family of drugs that enhance oxidative stress to kill rhabdomyosarcoma tumor cells and boost chemotherapy effectiveness. The study offers hope for treating this aggressive childhood cancer, particularly for patients with recurrent disease.
A novel chemical, perfluorotributylamine (PFTBA), has been found to be a long-lived greenhouse gas with the most radiatively efficient impact on climate, according to a study by the University of Toronto chemistry team. Calculated over a 100-year timeframe, PFTBA's global warming potential is equivalent to that of 7100 molecules of CO2.
Researchers find consistent types of organisms in subsurface rocks across globe, challenges imagination to think of nearly identical microbes 16,000 km apart.
Researchers at Umea University found that Tamiflu's active metabolite can contaminate river water in Japan, making the virus resistant to antiviral medications. The team aims to develop a national knowledge center on antiviral drug effects and improve wastewater treatment to prevent pandemics.
Researchers found diverse mineralogy in the South Pole Aitken basin's subsurface, suggesting pre-existing diversity in the Moon's crust and mantle. The study used data from the Moon Mineralogy Mapper to analyze light reflected from central peaks of smaller craters within the basin.
The MIT model suggests that neurons constantly change connections to explore many possible solutions, but with a balance between hyperplasticity and low signal-to-noise ratio. This allows the brain to learn new skills while retaining previously learned ones, especially if they are not similar.
Sandia National Laboratories researchers have devised a novel technique to increase the electrical conductivity of metal-organic framework (MOF) materials by over six orders of magnitude. This breakthrough has significant implications for the development of new electronics, sensors, energy conversion and storage technologies.
A new technique developed by Otger Campas and Donald Ingber enables the measurement of mechanical forces cells generate while building tissues and organs. This breakthrough provides insights into the role of mechanics in morphogenesis and may lead to discoveries about birth defects, tumor growth, and tissue abnormalities.
A new study by UC Irvine researchers links six or more hours of daily exposure to media coverage of the Boston Marathon bombings with increased acute stress symptoms. Repeated exposure to violent images can prolong stress responses and have serious health consequences.
Researchers from Linköping University and five universities worldwide have proven that polymers can exhibit semiconductor-like properties. The discovery paves the way for a new field of research in organic electronics.
A new study from Carnegie Institution researchers used zebrafish to understand the circuitry underlying nicotine addiction. The research confirmed that a specific neural pathway in fish brains responds similarly to nicotine as it does in human brains.
The emergence of fertility loans has raised ethical concerns as doctors market them to patients with potential financial ties to lenders. Experts argue that this practice may exacerbate the anguish of infertility by promoting unsuccessful interventions.
A new set of guidelines assesses pollinator performance using four metrics: single-visit efficiency, abundance, inclement weather behavior, and visitation rate. Small native bees are found to be highly efficient pollinators despite low abundance.
A recent study found that over 18% of lung cancers detected by low-dose computed tomography (LDCT) may be cases of overdiagnosis, where the cancer would not have become clinically apparent without screening. This could lead to unnecessary treatment, anxiety, and increased healthcare costs.
A new study suggests that a head injury can lead to depressive complications years later due to an overactive immune response and inflammation. The research found that brain cells went on 'high alert' after the injury, affecting behavior and leading to symptoms that were linked to inflammation.
A study published online in Cancer found that increased inflammation in the prostate gland may predict a reduced risk of developing prostate cancer. The study's findings suggest that biopsies performed on prostates with high inflammation levels may indicate a lower risk for subsequent cancer detection.
The EUCelLEX Project examines current legislation on somatic cells, assessing relevance and proposing sustainable solutions. It aims to provide a stabilised legal context for the use of stem cells in clinical purposes.
A University of Washington study found that the positive influence of Communities That Care on US teens' behavior was sustained through high school. By the end of 12th grade, 32% of teens in Communities That Care towns had never tried alcohol compared to 23% in control communities.
Researchers found a strong association between high 2-HG levels, DNA methylation patterns, and poor survival outcomes in African-American breast cancer patients. The study identified a distinct breast cancer subtype with elevated 2-HG levels that was associated with reduced survival.
The buff-tailed bumblebee, introduced to Chile in 1998, has spread rapidly throughout South America, outcompeting native species and potentially disrupting the ecosystem. The parasite Crithidia bombi is a key factor in the decline of native bumblebees.
Researchers found temperatures from -92 to -94 degrees Celsius (-134 to -137 Fahrenheit) in a 1,000-kilometer long swath on the highest section of the East Antarctic ice divide. The measurements were made using Landsat 8 and MODIS sensors.
A study published in Nature has cataloged 46 species with their mortality and fertility rates, revealing extraordinary diversity in aging processes. This challenges current explanations, which predict that the probability of dying rises with age, as seen in humans, but contradicted by species like the desert tortoise and white mangrove.
Researchers develop composite material that can change shape in response to temperature, enabling applications such as dynamic scaffolds and implantable materials. The material's reversible properties make it suitable for biomedical applications where shape changes need to be repeated.
A new study reveals that high school athletes playing at higher elevations suffer fewer concussions than those closer to sea-level. The researchers analyzed concussion statistics from athletes playing multiple sports in 497 high schools and found a significant decrease in concussion rates among all sports played above 600 feet.
Robert Mahley and his team will use the funding to identify new chemical compounds that can target apolipoprotein E4 (apoE4), the strongest genetic risk factor for developing Alzheimer's. They aim to develop small-molecule therapies that prevent apoE4's damaging effects on the brain.
A study by Washington State University researchers found that organic milk contains more beneficial fats and a healthier fatty acid ratio than conventional milk. Organic whole milk outperformed conventional milk in improving an individual's fatty acid profile, particularly with omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids.
Michigan State University researchers discovered a genetic deficiency in male mice that triggers the development of liver cancer and type 2 diabetes. The study found altered NCOA5 gene levels led to glucose intolerance and hepatocellular carcinoma.
Case Western Reserve engineers create nanoscale switches with low power consumption and durability, enabling faster and more efficient computing. The silicon carbide-based technology could lead to significant advancements in electronics and computing.
A study at Johns Hopkins Medicine found that vitamin D appears to block damage-causing immune cells from migrating to the central nervous system, potentially preventing or easing symptoms of multiple sclerosis. The research suggests that vitamin D may slow a process allowing T cells to grab onto blood vessel walls.
Researchers at Monash University have isolated muscle precursor cells from pluripotent stem cells using a purification technique, allowing them to differentiate into muscle cells. This breakthrough could lead to the development of new treatments for degenerative diseases such as Muscular Dystrophy and Parkinson's disease.
Michigan State University's SETS-UP fellowship provides secondary science teaching certification and a master's degree to prepare educators for middle- and high-school science teaching careers in high-need classrooms. The five-year program aims to increase teaching retention rates in these critical schools.
Researchers devised a mathematical model to improve treatment options for coronary heart disease (CHD), which accounts for 18% of US deaths annually. The model helps explain the factors governing drug release and distribution in drug-eluting stents, providing valuable insight into developing better treatments.
Researchers found that blood clots actively soak up lipopolysaccharide, a toxic compound released by Gram-negative bacteria. This protective mechanism may help prevent disease and death from septic shock, which affects 300,000 people annually.
Scientists discovered that ABC transport proteins, found in glandular cells of leaf beetle larvae, enable the accumulation of defensive substances like salicyl aldehyde. This process allows the larvae to save energy by synthesizing toxins only when needed.
The project supports the introduction of two innovative contraceptive vaginal rings in USAID-priority countries, including a one-year ring and a three-month Progesterone Vaginal Ring for breastfeeding women. The rings offer effective, user-controlled methods with no need for healthcare provider insertion or refrigeration.
The €3.6 million CACHE programme will study the effects of ocean warming and acidification on shellfish populations, crucial for the European fishing economy and biodiversity. The project will also explore biomimicry and carbon sequestration opportunities.
Researchers at DESY's PETRA III facility watched organic solar cells degrade in real time, revealing a mechanism of degradation that involves growth and receding of active domains. The study could lead to new approaches for increasing the stability of this promising type of solar cell.
Operations Research Perspectives is an open access journal publishing material on operations research and management science. The journal aims to make fast decisions accessible to a wide audience, bringing together high-quality papers from the field.