The University of Houston has been awarded a contract from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to design and implement faster, more autonomous, and less expensive bio-threat detection systems. The goal is to create multi-tiered sensor systems that can detect biological and chemical threats in real-time.
Researchers developed a smartphone accessory that performs a lab-based blood test in just 15 minutes, detecting three infectious disease markers from a finger prick of blood. The device has a manufacturing cost of $34 and can be attached to any compatible smartphone for rapid diagnosis.
The gold deposits in the Witwatersrand Basin are thought to have formed through a process involving volcanic rain, anoxic rivers, and ancient life forms. This theory reconciles previous debates between placer gold and hydrothermal hypothesis theories.
Scientists have identified the canary genome and deciphered the evolution of hormone-sensitive gene regulation in seasonal singing birds. The study reveals specific evolutionary changes in different parts of the song system that control seasonal singing behaviour.
A study published in Menopause found a link between early menopause and chronic fatigue syndrome in women, with 66% of those with CFS having undergone at least one gynecologic surgery. Women with CFS reported excessive bleeding and used hormones for purposes other than contraception more frequently.
Researchers have developed a novel, drug-releasing wafer that patients can apply directly to their affected eyes once daily, showing twice the effectiveness of traditional eye drops in mice without causing inflammation. This innovative treatment could help patients recover faster and reduce side effects associated with current therapies.
AcademyHealth has selected five individuals for its Scholars in Residence Fellowship Program, designed to encourage underrepresented racial/ethnic minorities in health services research. The program provides professional training and networking activities to support disparities research with a focus on population health.
A team of researchers has discovered three new extinct monkey fossils in the Peruvian Amazon, pushing back the colonization of South America by monkeys to at least 36 million years ago. The findings provide the first evidence that monkeys crossed the Atlantic Ocean from Africa.
The VISTA telescope has mapped the central regions of the Milky Way in infrared light, revealing a pair of newly discovered classical Cepheid variables beyond the galactic bulge. The stars were detected at a distance of about 37,000 light-years and have a period of eleven days.
A German-American research team has determined the three-dimensional shape of free-flying silver nanoparticles for the first time, using DESY's X-ray laser FLASH. The tiny particles exhibit an unexpected variety of shapes, including Platonic and Archimedean bodies.
The VOICE trial found that women who used tenofovir gel had a lower risk of HIV, despite overall product non-adherence being high. Tenofovir gel reduced HIV risk by 14.7% for those who used it, but the study as a whole showed products were not effective in preventing HIV.
Duke University researchers studied monkeys' eyes to understand how the brain processes distractions and predicts focus on goals. They found that changes in pupil size in response to distractors might predict how well the brain focuses on a goal.
Researchers found a correlation between brain's response to angry or fearful faces and mental health symptoms after stressful events. Higher amygdala activity predicts greater symptoms of depression and anxiety in response to stress.
Researchers from the Max Planck Institute for Dynamics and Self-Organization have developed a new concept that focuses on fully decentral matching of electricity supply and demand. This approach enables smart meters to regulate consumption directly and decentrally, reducing the risk of hacker attacks and data protection issues.
Researchers at USC discovered a compound that extends the life span of female fruit flies by 68%, challenging existing methods used to study genetic causes of aging. The finding opens up new avenues for investigating longevity and identifies potential candidate genes and mechanisms.
Researchers aim to standardize antibody identification by defining them by their sequences, like genes. This would enable consistent results across experiments and reduce waste in the research pipeline.
A recent study found that delays in the withdrawal of drugs from the market due to reported deaths could have been reduced if there were more efficient reporting and regulatory processes. The researchers identified 95 drugs that were withdrawn due to deaths, with most being used to treat neurological or psychiatric disorders.
A study at Kansas State University found that time-based interventions can increase self-control and timing precision in rats, a similar model to humans. These findings suggest potential for behavioral approaches to treat disorders like ADHD, substance abuse, and obesity.
Millions of antibodies used in research often have unclear specificity due to lack of quality control and standardization. Experts advocate for recombinant antibodies with defined sequences, enabling worldwide reproducibility of experiments.
Researchers at the University of Gothenburg and Karolinska Institute have failed to successfully treat infertility with stem cells, contradicting previous claims. The study shows that female mice can only produce eggs from birth, rendering stem cell-based treatment unrealistic.
Two-thirds of primary care health professionals want to widen exemption criteria for long-term conditions and lower or abolish charges altogether. The current system is seen as a barrier that prevents some people from receiving necessary prescriptions.
Researchers have developed a technology that mimics the cellular environment to restore organ function and promote tissue regeneration. The bioengineered miniature structures can release biologically active peptides to protect and repair damaged heart muscle cells.
Researchers discovered that cells with low levels of profilin 1 protein in breast tumors have increased capacity to metastasize and invade other tissues. The protein regulates the formation of invasive structures called invadopodia, which play a critical role in tumor invasion and metastasis.
A study of almost 6500 people found that recent gut and urinary tract infections were associated with a significantly lowered risk of developing rheumatoid arthritis. Infections within the past two years reduced the risk by 29%, 22% and 20% respectively.
The Lieber Institute for Brain Development won the grand prize at the National Collegiate Conference for Mahima Sukumar's research on electroconvulsive therapy. The study found that ECS can spur hippocampal neurogenesis, improving behavioral symptoms and brain structural changes associated with major depression.
A landmark University of Toronto study finds high levels of equality for Muslim women in Canada, contradicting public misconceptions. The research uses data from the 2001 census and shows that second-generation Muslim women are just as active in the workforce as other groups.
A new study found that surgical treatment provides significant benefit for lumbar spinal stenosis and degenerative spondylolisthesis in patients over 80, with comparable complication rates to younger patients. The benefits of surgery were similar to those in younger patients, except for pain and physical function outcomes.
A team of scientists led by Sean Cutler at UC Riverside successfully repurposed an agrochemical to enhance plant drought tolerance. The researchers engineered plant receptors to respond to mandipropamid, a widely used agricultural chemical, and found that the plants effectively survived drought conditions.
Research by University of Utah-led team finds shade coffee to be bird-friendly, but some species thrive in forest habitats. The study suggests organic shade coffee is the best choice for biodiversity, with native trees and no chemicals.
Researchers at the University of Iowa found that pigeons can categorize and name objects, similar to how children learn words. The study used a computerized task that allowed pigeons to learn 16 categories simultaneously, comparable to how humans learn categories.
A new study from the University of Michigan suggests that parents with traditional beliefs about masculinity and femininity are more likely to view pay-to-play sports fees as too high for their daughters. However, other studies have shown that parental support is influenced by a child's interest in an activity, not gender.
The study found that since 2002, non-medical use of painkillers has declined while overdose deaths have soared. Researchers recommend expanding access to opioid addiction treatment and implementing public education campaigns on the risks of prescription opioids.
A recent study found that bariatric surgery increases life expectancy for most obese diabetic patients, but decreases it for those with very high body mass indexes. For patients with a BMI over 62, the benefit of surgery is minimal.
A review of neuroimaging studies suggests that areas of agreement exist in psychiatric diagnoses, particularly regarding the integrity of the anterior insula/dorsal anterior cingulate network. This network is associated with executive function deficits seen across various diagnoses. The study analyzed 193 peer-reviewed articles and fou...
A case report published in Open Forum Infectious Diseases reveals that a woman who underwent fecal microbiota transplant for a recurrent C. difficile infection rapidly gained weight, becoming obese. The study suggests that clinicians should avoid selecting stool donors who are overweight to minimize the risk of similar outcomes.
A study by Washington State University researchers found that online comments from unknown experts can be more persuasive than public service announcements. Participants were equally influenced by pro-vaccination and anti-vaccination comments, regardless of the commenter's expertise.
A new method has been developed to deliver promising treatments to stroke patients quickly, thanks to the work of paramedics. By working with paramedics in the field, intravenous medications can be given to patients within the 'golden hour,' the window in which brain damage is minimized.
Researchers found that retigabine, an approved anti-epilepsy drug, preserved brain tissue in a mouse model of stroke and prevented loss of balance control. Histological analysis showed significantly reduced damage to the tissue after the stroke, up to five days after.
Researchers found that mice pretreated with low doses of green tea polyphenol EGCG had a 75% reduction in liver toxicity compared to untreated mice. This study suggests that chronic green tea consumers may be less sensitive to potential liver toxicity from supplements containing green tea extract.
Researchers found standard stars have about two habitable environments where liquid water can exist, providing conditions for life. However, the existence of intelligent civilizations remains uncertain due to unknown bottlenecks or self-destruction.
Researchers at Johns Hopkins Medicine have developed a new nanoparticle-based gene therapy that effectively kills brain cancer cells in rats and lengthens their survival. The treatment uses biodegradable nanoparticles filled with genes for an enzyme that turns a compound into a potent killer of cancer cells.
A recent study reveals biomass burners emit fine particulate emissions linked to heart problems and premature deaths. The researchers found that maintaining high burning efficiency can reduce these emissions and improve air quality.
Patients undergoing duodenal switch experienced greater weight loss and improvements in blood lipids, but also faced higher rates of nutritional complications. In contrast, gastric bypass resulted in better health-related quality of life for patients with severe obesity.
Researchers at UNC Chapel Hill have developed a device that can deliver chemotherapy drugs directly into tumor tissue, allowing for potential life-saving surgeries and increased life expectancy. The device uses electric fields to target poorly vascularized tumors, which are difficult to treat with standard IV chemotherapy drugs.
Researchers found that women, parents, and nature lovers are willing to pay more for environmental upgrades. The study used a psychological scale to understand why people choose between promoting environmental values or commercial uses.
A large-scale Danish study shows that premature babies are more likely to suffer from asthmatic symptoms and lung conditions in early life. However, the study found that they tend to grow better and eventually suffer no more lung conditions than others as adults.
A worldwide study of 100,000 women has discovered two new genetic variants associated with an increased risk of breast cancer. The variants are specifically linked to the most common form of breast cancer, oestrogen receptor positive, providing important clues about its causes and potential leads for treatment discovery.
A new NIH study suggests that paramedics may be able to start therapy as soon as stroke is suspected, potentially reducing the impact of brain damage. The study demonstrated the feasibility of early therapy in the ambulance, with 74.3 percent of patients receiving a study intervention within 60 minutes of stroke onset.
Neurons in the brain form a complex network of connections, with most links being weak. However, those that connect similar cells are strongly coupled, influencing activity and potentially aiding learning and adaptation.
A Stanford study analyzed nearly 16,000 brain images and found a common pattern of gray matter loss in three brain structures associated with high-level functions. This discovery challenges traditional classification of psychiatric disorders based on symptoms.
A new genus and species of flowering plants, Sirdavidia solannona, has been discovered in Gabon's Monts de Cristal National Park. The unusual flower structure and DNA analysis revealed the need for a new genus to accommodate it.
A study found that an information sheet for women treated for severe acne improves understanding of contraceptive effectiveness and ways to avoid pregnancy and medication-induced birth defects. The study highlights the need to update programs like iPledge to ensure women receive effectiveness information about their contraceptive options.
A team of scientists has developed flexible, microscopic hand-like grippers that can perform remotely guided surgical procedures and biopsies. The microhands use hydrogels and magnetic nanoparticles to provide energy and control, enabling the creation of biodegradable, miniaturized surgical tools.
Northwestern University scientists have developed a catalyst that can convert nitrogen to ammonia under natural conditions, mimicking the process found in nature.
A new report from the American Cancer Society finds that lung cancer has surpassed breast cancer as the leading cause of cancer death in females in developed countries. The tobacco epidemic in women is cited as a major factor contributing to this shift.
UMass researchers develop a new planning algorithm that enables semi-autonomous systems to handle uncertainty and prioritize human safety. By considering multiple objectives, such as safety and speed, the system can make sequential decisions in complex scenarios.
A newly discovered protein called HKDC1 may be a genetic predictor for gestational hyperglycemia and its long-term health effects. The enzyme appears during pregnancy in women with less of the gene, which could lead to a predictive test and potential therapeutic targets.
A new clinical trial led by Northwestern Medicine aims to evaluate the effectiveness of targeted muscle reinnervation (TMR) in treating chronic pain caused by limb amputation. The procedure involves transferring a damaged nerve into a functioning muscle, allowing it to grow and prevent neuroma formation.
Researchers have discovered a coding system, dubbed the 'Enigma machine,' that governs infections by single-stranded RNA viruses, including those causing the common cold and polio. The code, hidden in the viral genome's RNA sequence, can be jammed to disrupt virus assembly and prevent disease.
A new study from Duke University has found that a brain marker can predict who will develop depression and anxiety years after a stressful event. By measuring the activity of the amygdala, researchers were able to identify individuals who were at higher risk for developing mental illness.