A new consortium led by the Sabin Vaccine Institute is conducting clinical trials of a human hookworm vaccine in Gabon. The vaccine has the potential to dramatically improve health, economic, and social landscapes in countries with high burdens of hookworm disease.
Scientists have discovered that protein translation in dendrites is complex and dictates by translational hotspots, not solely when RNA is present. This finding may inform neurological and psychiatric illness therapeutics.
A recent study found that using DVDs, booklets, and health coaches can help patients arrive at an informed treatment decision within their first visit with an orthopaedic surgeon. The study showed a significant increase in patient confidence in knowing what questions to ask their doctor, leading to better shared medical decision making.
The National Institutes of Health has awarded a nearly $1 billion contract to Saint Louis University's Center for Vaccine Development, recognizing the institution's leadership role in vaccine research. The seven-year contract will support clinical trials and lab studies for new vaccines, with a focus on emerging threats.
A study published in Clinical Psychology Review found that people in debt are three times more likely to experience mental health problems than those not in debt. The research, led by the University of Southampton, analyzed data from nearly 34,000 participants and showed a strong correlation between debt and poor mental health outcomes.
Scientists at EMBL found that cells in a zebrafish embryo determine their direction by erasing the path behind them and creating a self-generated chemokine gradient. This finding could have implications for development, cancer, and metastasis.
Researchers at Caltech have identified a previously unknown bacterium in the termite gut that may be responsible for most acetogenesis. The bacterium, part of the deltaproteobacteria group, attaches to the surface of a hydrogen-producing protozoan, providing a new understanding of the complex food web in the termite gut.
Researchers discovered the critical role of retinoic acid signaling pathway in forming blood-forming stem cells. The study used mouse models to demonstrate that disrupting this pathway eliminates blood-forming stem cells, while activating it increases their numbers.
A new UCLA-led study examines the effects of childhood abuse and lack of parental affection across the body's entire regulatory system. The research finds a strong biological link between negative early life experiences and physical health, with parental warmth offering protection against these effects.
Scientists at MIT have created tiny ceramic objects that can bend up to 7% without cracking, overcoming the material's brittleness. The flexible ceramics have potential for biomedical applications, such as triggering actions in microdevices.
The Curiosity Rover discovered a diverse range of soils and sediments on Mars, revealing small amounts of water in the dust and fine soil. The findings suggest that water may be present in the Martian environment, potentially providing a source for future astronauts.
A study spanning two decades reveals that species in forest fragments are more likely to disappear than previously thought. Habitat fragmentation and invasive species like the Malayan field rat contribute to the rapid decline of native wildlife populations.
A study published in Journal of Neurotrauma found that traumatic brain injury during childhood can cause significant deficits in working memory. The authors propose identifying neuroanatomical biomarkers to detect early signs of impaired working memory.
Scientists discovered that rare codons near the start of a gene control protein production, allowing for more efficient bacterial reprogramming. This finding could lead to new methods for synthetic biologists to produce drugs and biological devices.
The WIFIRE project aims to create a scalable system for wildfire analysis, integrating networked observations and computational techniques. It will support situational awareness, responses, and decision-making at local, state, national, and international levels.
A Wayne State University researcher is studying the effects of exercise on a process that plays a critical role in insulin signaling within skeletal muscle. He aims to identify molecular mechanisms responsible for improved insulin action after exercise and provide novel targets for preventing and treating type 2 diabetes.
A month-long study by University of Houston aims to enhance air quality forecasting using satellite data and numerical models. The team collected extensive data from mobile labs, aircraft, and satellites to develop more accurate pollution sensors.
The University of South Florida has created a Veterans' Bachelor of Science Degree in Nursing Program (V-CARE) to address the nation's nursing workforce shortage. The program builds on veterans' military healthcare training, offering credit for previous service and aiming to enroll 120 veterans over four years.
Research reveals that marine animals have multiple independent clocks, including a 24-hour circadian clock and a tidal clock that regulates daily cycles. The findings suggest that these clocks may be standard operating equipment in animals, with the tidal clock playing a crucial role in coastal organisms.
Researchers found that as European songbirds colonized islands, their songs became less structured. The study suggests a genetic component to the loss of syntax, and may be due to the effects of small population sizes on cultural transmission.
Researchers from Brandeis University and UMMS discovered that the spliceosome's major components can attach in any order, eliminating the need for precise communication. This breakthrough sheds light on the process of RNA splicing, a crucial step in protein synthesis, and holds promise for understanding diseases like cystic fibrosis.
Researchers at Caltech developed a miniature chip-based resonator that stabilizes electrical currents and optical signals, paving the way for improvements in communications, navigation, and remote sensing. The new technology uses an Archimedean spiral to minimize energy surges and improve frequency stability.
Researchers found that men with variable telomere length in cancer cells and shorter telomeres in stromal cells were more likely to develop metastatic disease and die sooner from their prostate cancer. This combination could be a marker for prostate cancer prognosis.
Scientists tracked energy from the sun to Earth's magnetosphere using eight NASA spacecraft, including ARTEMIS and THEMIS. The research provides insights into substorms and their impact on space weather, with energy flows lasting up to half an hour and covering areas 10 times larger than Earth.
Researchers found that osteocalcin, a bone-derived hormone, plays a powerful role in prenatal brain development and cognitive functions such as learning, memory, anxiety, and depression. Osteocalcin promotes the birth of neurons, increases neurotransmitter synthesis, and affects behavior in adult mice.
A team of MSL scientists analyzed a martian rock called Jake_M, which is highly enriched in sodium and potassium, making it chemically alkaline. The analysis suggests that parts of Mars may be more like Earth than previously thought, with the rock possibly forming from partial melting of rocks deep inside the planet.
Researchers at Scripps Research Institute discovered a critical role of dendritic epidermal T cells in producing interleukin-17A to promote wound healing. The study found that these skin-resident immune cells function as 'first responders' to skin injuries by producing IL-17A, which wards off infection and promotes wound healing.
Astronomers have discovered a millisecond pulsar with a unique dual identity, shifting between X-ray and radio emission in a phenomenon never before observed. The discovery represents a long-sought intermediate phase in the life of these powerful objects, offering a rare opportunity to study a pulsar's magnetic field in action.
A long-term study has revealed that the deep Greenland Sea is warming at a rate ten times higher than the global ocean, with potential consequences for European climate. The warming is caused by changes in the interplay of two processes: cooling from above and warming from below.
The Clinical Genome Resource (ClinGen) aims to develop a framework for evaluating genomic variants relevant to disease and patient care. The grants will support the development of standards formats for data deposition and analysis, as well as categorization of clinical relevance for variants.
A UA-led international collaboration studies how microbes release greenhouse gases as they access nutrients in thawing permafrost soils. The team aims to explain the relationships between microbial processes and climate change, with potential implications for solving the 'big biology problem' in climate change.
Researchers developed a new method to treat medulloblastoma by disrupting cancer stem cells, halting their ability to proliferate. The approach shows promise in preventing tumor progression and overcoming resistance to therapy, offering hope for patients with this highly malignant cancer.
Astronomers are closer to understanding the formation of planetary nebulas after discovering a star in the southern sky with a strong magnetic field. The 'blooming' star is creating a jet of charged particles that glow with radio waves, and researchers believe the magnetic field may play a key role in shaping its symmetrical jets.
A new large animal model was developed to study immune responses to H. pylori, a leading cause of peptic ulcers. The pig model showed an increase in pro-inflammatory CD4+ T helper cells and cytotoxic T cells, mirroring recent human clinical studies.
Research shows that genetic factors and dietary choices interact to shape the microbiome in the host intestine. This combination determines the presence and activity of specific microbes, which can affect digestive health and increase the risk for conditions like Crohn's disease.
Researchers found that pravastatin impaired learning and recognition memory in rats, while atorvostatin showed no adverse effects. The study suggests chronic treatment with pravastatin may cause cognitive impairment, but further studies are needed to confirm this.
A new study presented at ASTRO's Annual Meeting has identified the Common-Terminology-Criteria-for-Adverse Events (CTCAE) scale as a reliable method for assessing patient reactions to radiation therapy. The study found that using this standardized scale improved consistency among caregivers, enabling more uniform and effective care.
A study has identified 114 genes on the X chromosome that have escaped silencing, including 76 previously unknown. These genes are often associated with mental impairment and may hold clues to better management of XXX syndrome.
Radiation oncologists face higher workloads and decreased confidence when treating unfamiliar cases, as shown in a UNC study. The researchers used NASA-TLX to measure perceived workload and found that performance decreased with longer completion times.
The American Chemical Society's annual survey shows that salaries and employment for chemists are improving, with full-time jobs reaching a five-year high and median salaries increasing. However, disparities persist, including lower earnings for women and regional differences in job opportunities.
A new study suggests that dams in the Columbia River basin provide ecological and engineering resilience to climate change impacts. Reservoir management counteracts effects of shifting peak snowmelt runoff, making downstream impacts negligible.
Researchers analyzed tweets from eight national newspapers across the US, UK, Spain, Brazil, and Germany to study global news reading habits. They found that different countries have stronger preferences for specific types of articles, such as opinion and world news in the US and Britain, and local and national news in Spain.
A team of Stanford engineers has built a basic computer using carbon nanotubes, demonstrating their potential as a successor to silicon chips. The achievement showcases the efficiency and low-power switching capabilities of CNTs, which could lead to smaller, faster, and cheaper electronic devices.
Researchers have developed nanoparticles that can protect vaccines from being cleared by the lungs, allowing them to generate a strong immune response in both the lungs and distant mucosal surfaces. The technology has shown promise in preventing infections such as influenza and HIV, as well as delivering cancer vaccines.
Researchers from the University of California, San Diego have developed a miniature camera system that achieves optical performance comparable to full-size wide-angle lenses. The system uses monocentric lenses made of concentric glass shells to produce wide-angle images with high resolution and minimal distortions.
A team of astronomers has identified a pulsar that switches between emitting X-rays and radio waves, offering the first direct evidence of one kind of pulsar transforming into another. This phenomenon was observed in a small cluster of stars 18,000 light-years away in the constellation Sagittarius.
Researchers at Harvard University and MIT have successfully bound photons together to form a new type of matter, dubbed photonic molecules. This breakthrough challenges traditional understanding of light as massless particles that don't interact with each other.
A study published in JAMA Dermatology found over 200 mobile apps related to dermatology, but most are free with no guarantees of accuracy. Doctors advise users to use common sense and cross-reference apps with other sources before relying on them.
Researchers found that unstable chromosomes with breaks at common fragile sites are associated with a less favorable response to radiation therapy and surgery in prostate cancer patients. These abnormalities are often linked to DNA instability, which is characteristic of cancer cells.
A new study has provided hope for halting the incurable citrus greening disease by understanding its impact on trees before infection. The researchers used DNA sequencing technologies to reveal metabolic imbalances and hormonal disruptions caused by the bacterial disease.
A new 'wormlike' hematite photoanode has been developed, converting sunlight and water to clean hydrogen energy with a record-breaking efficiency of 5.3%. This achievement surpasses the previous record of 4.2% set by Prof. Michael Graetzel's research group.
Researchers found a novel hepatitis virus that was mistakenly believed to be a genuine disease-causing agent. The team used next-generation DNA sequencing and data mining to track down the true source of the contamination, which was traced back to tiny oceanic algae called diatoms.
A University of Cincinnati study analyzes 25 groundwater wells for methane and hydrocarbons, shedding light on fracking's effects. The research aims to establish baseline assessments as fracking begins in the region.
Researchers have discovered a new material that combines the properties of topological insulators and superconductors, with a large energy gap and potential applications in quantum computing and spintronics. This breakthrough has significant implications for the development of next-generation electronic devices.
Researchers at TUM have developed a new family of electronic devices using carbon nanotubes, enabling rapid gas detection and low power consumption. These sensors can be integrated into food packaging to gauge freshness or built into electronic skin for robotic applications.
Researchers at MD Anderson found that intensity modulated proton therapy (IMPT) reduces the use of feeding tubes by 50% compared to standard treatment. IMPT also lowers toxicity levels and preserves quality of life outcomes in patients with head and neck cancers.
Researchers selectively bred silver foxes for friendly behavior, resulting in faster maturation, more attractive features, and changes in hormone levels that affect physical development. These findings suggest that human preference for beautiful faces may be linked to an individual's approachability and sociability.
A nationwide Feed America study revealed that one in three low-income families had difficulty affording basic household necessities. The University of Illinois Family Resiliency Center contributed to the study by conducting interviews with food-bank clients about essential household products and strategies for obtaining them.
Scientists have made breakthroughs in delivering medicines to the brain via the nose, with improved liposomes and polymers allowing for more efficient transport of active substances. The new method could lead to reduced side effects and improved treatment outcomes for patients with neurological diseases.
A new study found that prenatal cocaine exposure is associated with lower gray matter volume in key brain regions involved in emotion, reward, memory, and executive function. This can increase the likelihood of initiating substance use by up to 83.6%, highlighting the need for a long-term perspective on the risks.