The Genome Analysis Centre (TGAC) successfully trialled the MinION portable DNA sequencing device for real-time analysis of environmental samples. The team sequenced complex metagenomic samples, identifying species in real-time using bioinformatics tools Kontaminant and NanoOK.
Acute liver failure patients can now undergo live donor liver transplantation in emergency situations without compromising patient safety. The procedure has been shown to have similar postoperative complication rates and 1-, 3-, and 5-year survival rates compared to deceased donor liver transplants.
A newly discovered crocodilian ancestor, Carnufex carolinensis, filled one of North America's top predator roles before dinosaurs arrived on the continent. The 9-foot long land-dwelling crocodylomorph likely preyed upon smaller inhabitants like armored reptiles and early mammal relatives.
Researchers estimate that installing alcohol ignition interlock devices in all new cars could prevent up to 85% of crash deaths attributable to alcohol-involved motor vehicle crashes. This would save over 59,000 lives and prevent 1.25 million non-fatal injuries. The estimated cost savings would be $343 billion over 15 years.
A study of 500 women in California found that black and Hispanic patients were less likely to choose their surgeon based on reputation compared to white women. Health plans played a significant role in hospital selection for all groups. These findings suggest minority patients have less involvement in choosing their healthcare providers.
Researchers at UC Berkeley and UC San Francisco found that giving participants a drug that changes brain chemistry makes them more willing to divide resources equally. The study may lead to better understanding of mental illnesses like schizophrenia or addiction, and potentially diagnostic tools or treatments.
A £5 million investment will enhance security in virtual environments, detect emerging malware threats, and create high-tech jobs. The funding aims to promote successful economic development through strong industry-academic partnerships.
A recent study by the University of Illinois has identified specific nutritional needs for soybeans to improve yield and seasonal nutrient supply. The researchers found that nutrients such as phosphate, potassium, nitrogen, sulfur, and copper are critical for high-yielding success.
Researchers developed a non-invasive method to screen for kidney cancer by measuring protein biomarkers in urine, achieving over 95% accuracy. The findings suggest the potential for an easy-to-use screening test, similar to mammograms or colonoscopies, to identify patients with kidney cancer at early stages.
A study published in Cell Reports reveals a potential strategy for promoting the right balance of gut microbes in antibiotic-treated mice by manipulating the autoinducer-2 (AI-2) chemical signal. The researchers found that high levels of AI-2 increased the expansion of Firmicutes phylum, leading to a healthy state of the gut microbiota.
Researchers warn that localized issues like nutrient pollution and deforestation can exacerbate climate change impacts on ecosystems. Strengthening local management is crucial to expand the 'safe operating space' for these ecosystems, which are critical to global biodiversity. Local actions can be well understood and not too expensive.
A three-year project at Goethe University Frankfurt is investigating olive polyphenols to develop new functional food for the ageing society. The researchers aim to test whether these substances can protect against Alzheimer's disease and improve brain function.
A single oral dose of azithromycin has shown promising results in eliminating yaws from Papua New Guinea, with an 83.8% success rate among infected residents. To achieve global eradication, Kazura advocates for improved infrastructure, mapping systems, and community commitment.
Researchers identified high blood pressure, protein loss, and anemia as predictors of disease worsening in children with mild to moderate CKD. Intervening on these modifiable risk factors may change the long-term course of the disease, preventing kidney failure and delaying dialysis or transplantation.
MSU researchers are using big data analytics to help farmers adapt to climate variability, reducing nitrous oxide emissions and algal blooms. The project aims to integrate crop models with satellite imagery and UAVs to promote water-, nutrient- and climate-smart technologies.
Research reveals spinal cord neurons in the dorsal horn use glycine to inhibit pain signals, while also controlling various forms of itch. The discovery offers new insights into the Gate Control Theory and potential therapeutic targets for pain management.
A study found that high-vitamin maternal diets impact brain development and food preference in male Wistar rat offspring, reducing preference for sweetness. The findings suggest that excessive vitamin intake during pregnancy may affect offspring's dietary choices and potentially other behaviors.
A Europe-wide survey predicts a sharp rise in UK adults living with cystic fibrosis, expected to increase by up to 79.3% by 2025. This surge poses a significant challenge for the NHS to develop adult specialist services quickly and effectively.
Researchers from the Institute of Physical Chemistry of Poland use click chemistry to bond nanoparticles to a glassy carbon substrate, creating covalent bonds and forming stable structures. The method has advantages such as low temperatures, high yield and versatility.
A new study found that pears, rich in phenolics and antioxidants, can support beneficial probiotic bacterial response while controlling stomach-related diseases. The results suggest a pear-enriched diet may provide efficient management options for diet-linked non-communicable diseases.
Researchers at UTEP and UCF developed a new method to steer light beams through tighter curves without losing energy, paving the way for ultra-fast data-transmission devices in smaller spaces. This technology has the potential to revolutionize next-gen computing by enabling thousands of times faster data transmission.
The article provides ten key criteria for top-level appointments, emphasizing the importance of clear expectations and emotional intelligence. Leading experts recommend establishing a balanced set of job requirements to find successful candidates.
A new RAND Corporation study reveals that Los Angeles' fast-food ban has failed to improve diets or reduce obesity rates in low-income areas. Despite the ban, fast-food consumption increased and obesity rates rose faster than in other parts of the city.
Researchers use mathematical models to characterize tumor microenvironment, highlighting sanctuary sites as key to drug resistance. Tumor sanctuaries with little drug exposure are the source of resistant mutants.
Acne sufferers may benefit from a new therapy that reduces breakout frequency and intensity using ultrasound, gold-covered particles, and lasers. The treatment works by deactivating sebaceous glands, reducing sebum production and preventing bacterial growth.
A new study reveals that dottyback reef fish can change color to imitate various damselfish species, allowing it to sneak up on unsuspecting young and avoid detection by larger predators. This unique ability makes it harder for prey to develop strategies to evade the dottyback.
Researchers have identified a critical molecular pathway in blood stem cells that can be manipulated to enhance their regenerative capacity and reduce the signs of aging. By slowing down mitochondrial activity, they found that levels of SIRT7 can help cope with stress caused by misfolded proteins.
The Tobacco Atlas details the scale of the tobacco epidemic, its harmful influence on health, poverty, social justice, and the environment. The report highlights the tobacco industry's expanding array of tactics to preserve profits, including aggressive marketing and legal action, which cause economic, social, and environmental harm.
A recent study found that children of deployed military parents experience increased mental healthcare needs and physical injury rates compared to non-deployed children. The risk of child maltreatment also increases when parents return from deployment injured.
Researchers at Ruhr-University Bochum analyze interactions between Oriental-Orthodox Churches and Jewish communities in the post-Late Antiquity period. The project aims to close a research gap, exploring manuscripts, inscriptions, and archaeological artefacts in different languages.
A study found that men are attracted to women with a specific angle of lumbar curvature, which would have supported pregnant women during childbirth. This preference has evolutionary roots and is not related to buttock size.
Researchers at Tel Aviv University have discovered the first direct evidence of prehistoric humans using stone tools to butcher animal carcasses. The analysis of 500,000-year-old flint tools found at a site in Israel revealed signs of animal residue and use-wear patterns consistent with butchering activities.
Researchers are developing a biologically plausible model of the whole system to predict outcomes of future experiments and provide more information about the brain's ability to learn new motor movements. The goal is to understand how people execute, control and learn movements to lead to new treatments for Huntington's disease.
Researchers found that vitamin D helps regulate glucose metabolism, reducing the risk of type 2 diabetes. In mice without adequate vitamin D, immune cells became fat transporters, leading to artery clogging and inflammation.
A research group at Aarhus University developed a computer game called Quantum Moves, played 400,000 times by ordinary people, providing unique insight into the human brain's ability to solve problems. The results show females outperform males in solving problems, highlighting an unexploited capacity for ingenuity in the human brain.
Researchers have developed a new approach to sharpen nanoscale microscopy by precisely determining the light source's location, overcoming diffraction limit challenges. This innovation enables super-resolution imaging with accuracy, correcting for image-dipole distortions and improving spatial resolution.
A series of University of Utah studies found that hostile-dominant personality styles are associated with increased vulnerability to cardiovascular disease, including higher blood pressure and severe atherosclerosis. In contrast, warm-dominant styles are linked to lower blood pressure and more support in marriages.
Researchers at the University of Cambridge have successfully grown 'mini-lungs' using induced pluripotent stem cells derived from skin cells of patients with cystic fibrosis. These mini-lungs can be used to test potential new drugs and provide a more reliable alternative to traditional animal models.
Research finds that bacterial communication through autoinducer-2 can restore balance of gut microbiota after antibiotic treatment. The study suggests using bacteria's own language to control and exploit beneficial microbes in the human gut.
Researchers at Children's Hospital Los Angeles have found that liver MRI is more accurate than biopsy in determining total body iron balance. The study suggests that liver MRI can be a safer and less painful alternative to liver biopsy, which has high sampling variability and can cause bleeding.
A new study suggests that ocean pipes would increase global warming due to decreased cloud cover and increased sea-ice melting, rather than cooling the Earth as predicted.
Chromothripsis, a hidden genetic disorder, can cause severe birth defects in children despite its absence in healthy parents. The condition affects multiple genes and leads to difficulties getting pregnant, miscarriages, and intellectual disability.
A new study found that suspending students for marijuana use can lead to more pot use among their classmates, but counseling is a more effective means of combating marijuana use. Schools with suspension policies had a 1.6 times higher rate of marijuana use among students compared to those without such policies.
Researchers at University of Waterloo developed a new statistical tool, nicheROVER, to analyze multiple ecological niche parameters and identify overlap between species. This allows for more informed predictions about the impact of invasive species on native ecosystems.
Engineers at North Carolina State University and Xanofi developed a simple process to fabricate mass quantities of polymer nanofibers, with potential applications in filtration, batteries and cell scaffolding. The method uses liquid solution and spinning cylinder, producing nanofibers on a massive scale.
Researchers have found that clindamycin and TMP-SMX are equally effective in treating uncomplicated skin infections caused by community-associated MRSA. The study's findings suggest that these off-patent antibiotics can be used successfully to combat MRSA skin infections acquired outside of hospitals.
The Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) is investing £70 million in science research projects across the UK. The funding will support equipment and projects at 18 universities, including ultra-bright lasers, electron microscopes, and advanced x-ray imaging.
Residents who walked near newly greened vacant lots had significantly lower heart rates compared to walking near blighted, or neglected, vacant lots. The average heart rate reduction was over 5 beats per minute lower when near greened lots versus non-greened lots.
Researchers at University of British Columbia found a new approach to treating Type 2 diabetes using stem cell transplants and conventional drugs. The study showed mice became glucose tolerant after receiving the transplants, while those without received only drugs, resulting in unexpected weight loss.
Researchers warn that localised issues such as water pollution and deforestation can exacerbate the effects of climatic extremes, reducing an ecosystem's capacity to cope with climate change. The authors call for enhanced local action to protect globally important ecosystems like the Great Barrier Reef and Amazon rainforest.
A pioneering class of drugs targeting BRCA breast cancer genes may also work against tumours with CLBC gene defects. Researchers found that CLBC-defective cancer cells are vulnerable to PARP inhibitor drugs, opening up new treatment possibilities for a broader group of patients.
Research by Thomas Obadia and colleagues found that frequent contact between patients and healthcare workers increased the risk of Staphylococcus aureus transmission. The study analyzed 85,025 daily interactions over four months and validated the use of wireless sensors for infection control.
The Explosive Destruction System (EDS) has begun destroying chemical munitions at the US Army Pueblo Chemical Depot, preparing for a larger operation to destroy 780,000 munitions containing 2,600 tons of mustard agent. The new system is designed to process stockpile munitions more efficiently than previous versions.
A study of 91 German-owned multinationals found that companies lose profit due to geographical, cultural, or administrative challenges in new international markets. Companies should gather and exchange knowledge before entering challenging markets, recommends Associate Professor Ingo Kleindienst.
Researchers have made a significant breakthrough in understanding the microscopic electronic structure of cuprate superconductors, a key step towards achieving room-temperature superconductivity. The study reveals a stripe-like pattern in the static electron configuration, which differs from previous theoretical models.
Research by Carnegie Institution scientists links steroid hormone ecdysone with fat accumulation and egg development in fruit flies. The findings suggest that increased stored body fat and sugars support healthy oocyte production and fertility.
A new diet, MIND, shows reduced risk of Alzheimer's by 35-53% in participants who adhered moderately well, with benefits from brain-healthy food groups and limits on unhealthy foods. Long-term consistent adherence is crucial for optimal protection.
Researchers have discovered a naturally occurring chemical, cedrol, that attracts pregnant malaria-transmitting mosquitoes, offering a new way to control mosquitoes. The team found that the chemical increased the likelihood of female mosquitoes laying eggs in treated water by two to three times.
A study by RAND Corporation and American Medical Association found that physician practices need help adapting to new payment models, which can improve quality and reduce costs. The report suggests that operational details of alternative payment models can either support or hinder practices' efforts to improve their processes.
Researchers at Rice University have developed a method to control the size-dependent band gap of coal-based graphene quantum dots, enabling specific semiconducting properties. The new process uses ultrafiltration or direct control of reaction temperature, producing smaller dots with different optical and electronic properties.