A novel picornavirus has been found to be a key suspect in the development of Avian Keratin Disorder, a debilitating condition causing beak overgrowth and impairing feeding and preening behaviors. The discovery provides a critical lead in understanding the emergence of this disease in wild bird populations worldwide.
New computer modeling suggests that solid-state thermophotovoltaics (TPV) could rival combined-cycle turbine systems when combined with thermal storage using liquid metal. TPV operates on the same principle as solar cells but converts infrared radiation to electricity.
The project aims to develop a web-based Resistance Spot Welding (RSW) weldability prediction tool, which will improve design and engineering efficiency. The tool is expected to enhance product quality through the utilization of advanced materials and reduce physical testing required for new material candidates.
Tropical cyclones Georgette and Frank in the Eastern Pacific Ocean show see-sawing strength, with hurricane Frank strengthening while tropical storm Georgette weakening. Maximum sustained winds for Georgette have decreased to near 70 mph, with further weakening forecasted.
S Jay Olshansky, a renowned gerontologist, has been awarded the 2016 Donald P Kent Award by the Gerontological Society of America. The award recognizes his exceptional contributions to the field of aging, including his work on estimates of human longevity and the health implications of population aging.
Researchers have identified three new risk genes for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) using genetic data from Project MinE. One of these genes, C21orf2, increases the risk of developing ALS by 65%. The study's findings could aid the development of personalized treatments using gene therapy.
A new study out of UBC and Ryerson University found that streetcar tracks are involved in a third of bike crashes in Toronto's downtown. The researchers argue that creating separated bike lanes could minimize interactions with rail tracks and reduce the risk of accidents.
A supervised self-monitoring approach, which includes adjusted treatment or reinforcing lifestyle changes when needed, was found to be effective in controlling diabetes. The study showed better glycaemic control and lower glycated haemoglobin levels in the intervention arm compared to those who received usual care.
Research reveals elite cyclists outperform recreational athletes in mental fatigue tests, indicating a superior ability to resist mental fatigue. This enhanced ability is thought to be linked to the sport's demands and may be trainable through physical training.
Researchers at WashU Medicine discovered a region of the brain involved in decisions made under uncertainty and identified cells that suppress value-coding neurons when making a risky choice. This study could lead to treatments for psychological disorders, such as problem gambling and anxiety disorders.
Research by Cornell University reveals that planting cover crops beneath grapevines reduces nitrogen leaching, decreases dissolved organic carbon, and lowers neonicotinoid insecticide residues. This environmentally sustainable approach also saves vineyards money by minimizing herbicide use.
A new study reveals wide variations in workforce processes prior to mechanical thrombectomy, with only 43% of institutions allowing patients to be moved to the procedure room while the neurointerventional team is en route. This inefficiency can delay treatment and impact patient outcomes.
Marilyn Rantz, PhD, RN, FAAN, receives the 2016 Doris Schwartz Gerontological Nursing Research Award for her pioneering work in quality measurement and research programs to improve care of older adults. Her extensive research funding exceeds $60 million.
A study comparing SRS alone to SRS combined with WBRT found that SRS alone resulted in less cognitive deterioration at 3 months, with higher quality of life. The findings suggest that SRS alone may be a preferred strategy for patients with 1-3 brain metastases.
Researchers have identified a modified human protein essential for Ebola virus replication, offering new targets for therapeutic development.
Researchers at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine have discovered that deleting a specific protein, HNF6, leads to an increase in lipid-producing genes and liver damage. This study highlights the co-dependence of two cell nucleus proteins, HNF6 and Rev-erb-alpha, which regulate liver lipid metabolism.
An online behavioural counselling tool has been shown to be effective in helping people lose weight and sustain weight loss. Participants who used the Positive Online Weight Reduction (POWeR+) programme with brief support from a practice nurse lost more weight than those without, with an average weight loss of over 1kg over 12 months.
Hurricane Frank showed a transition from weakening to strengthening phases, with cloud top temperatures warming on July 25 and cooling on July 26. The storm's winds were measured by NASA's RapidScat instrument, which found tropical-storm-force winds extending outward up to 70 miles.
Researchers have discovered that asymmetrical magnetic microbeads can be transformed into useful tools controlled by a changing external magnetic field. The Janus particles, inspired by the Roman god of two faces, exhibit unique behavior under oscillating fields, forming linear chains and expanding to create micro-muscles on a chip.
Researchers discovered that cells from the same lot purchased from a cell bank exhibited vastly different responses to chemicals and had distinct genetic profiles. This finding raises concerns about the reliability of cell culture experiments, which rely on these cells as a foundation.
Researchers found that the Amazon rainforest experiences higher photosynthesis rates during the dry season due to changes in leaf quality and not quantity. This discovery can help scientists assess the forest's health and potential impact on climate change.
The Dawn spacecraft's findings suggest that Ceres' large impact basins were erased due to its peculiar composition and internal evolution. The team proposes that a significant population of large craters was obliterated beyond recognition, likely resulting from the planet's icy crust and geological activity.
Researchers found that flow diversion demonstrates a higher rate of visual improvement and a lower rate of visual decline in patients with paraclinoid aneurysms. Eight out of nine patients treated with Pipeline embolization device showed improved visual outcomes.
Research suggests that witnesses are more willing to identify a suspect when they view a lineup in which the suspect alone has a distinguishing feature. However, this can also lead to confusion between actual guilty suspects and innocent suspects with similar features, impairing their ability to make accurate identifications.
Researchers analyzed 750 food paintings from the past 500 years and found that 86% depicted bread and 61% showed meat, while only 22% featured vegetables. The study suggests that people have always been drawn to visually appealing and indulgent foods.
A new study suggests that improvements in air quality over the Potomac watershed led to recent progress on water quality in the Chesapeake Bay. Researchers found a nearly universal improvement in water quality, with decreasing nitrate concentrations and reversing nitrogen saturation in the basin.
Tropical Storm Mirinae is predicted to make landfall in northeastern Vietnam on July 27, with NASA tracking its movement towards China's Hainan Island. The storm is expected to strengthen slightly before dissipating in southern China.
Researchers used live zebrafish and 3D microscopy to track interactions between gut bacteria, finding that mechanical contractions play a vital role in shaping communities of intestinal microbiota. This discovery offers new insights into the problems experienced by humans with Hirschsprung's disease.
A task force has been criticized for not recommending melanoma screening due to lack of evidence, but dermatologists believe early detection reduces risk of death from melanoma through visual inspections. The issue highlights the need for refined standards on skin cancer screenings with potential life-saving benefits.
Researchers at NSU discovered that barnacles can modify their penis shape, size, and length based on environmental conditions. This unique adaptation allows them to optimize their reproductive success.
A new study reveals that genetic factors play a crucial role in shaping the brain's cortical pattern, with close relationships between genetic variants across different regions. The findings suggest potential functional relationships among cortical brain regions, shedding light on the complex mechanisms underlying brain development.
A study found late preterm and early term birth rates decreased in the US between 2006 and 2014. Clinician-initiated obstetric interventions also declined, particularly among births over 37 weeks, suggesting a positive association with delayed interventions.
A study published in the journal Drug and Alcohol Dependence found that pregnant women with health insurance coverage had lower odds of alcohol use, while non-pregnant women with insurance had higher odds. The study also found that prenatal substance use poses significant threats to maternal and child health.
A new scoring system called the Opercular Index Score (OIS) shows promise in predicting stroke outcomes and collateral robustness, potentially guiding treatment decisions.
The Health-eBrain Study launches Phase II to investigate the impact of Alzheimer's caregiving on brain and behavioral health. An international cohort of caregivers will use a mobile app to assess their cognitive function over 12 weeks, tracking stress levels, sleep, mood, and self-evaluation of memory.
The study found that genetic signatures predict education, height, BMI, and heart disease more strongly today than in the past. The role of genes decreased for education but increased for BMI and heart disease due to environmental factors.
Physicists develop simplified models to identify dark matter signals, combining results from multiple experiments. These new approaches yield unique signatures and help constrain dark matter searches.
A new trial has found that robotic and open prostate cancer surgeries achieve similar results in terms of quality of life indicators, urinary function, and sexual function. Longer-term follow-up is needed to assess the full impact on cancer survival.
Researchers found that low UPSIT scores predicted dementia and cognitive decline in older adults, while entorhinal cortical thickness was associated with UPSIT score in those who transitioned to dementia. Odor identification testing may be useful in detecting early-stage Alzheimer's disease.
A recent study by Hiroshima University scientists found Japanese tadpoles can live and grow in natural hot springs with water temperatures up to 46.1°C. This unique adaptation may allow the species to thrive on small volcanic islands with limited fresh water sources.
Despite societal perceptions, many seniors consider sexual activity essential to their well-being. Researchers found that some older adults are finding their golden years optimal for exploring new dimensions of sexuality. Others emphasized they remained sexually able and interested throughout their later years.
Research reveals that a brief period of stress can cause the hippocampus to start shrinking, which precedes the onset of memory loss. The study found that stressed rats performed poorly in memory tests compared to unstressed rats, with individual differences in brain shrinkage predicting worse performance.
Susanne Wurm, a professor of psychogerontology, has received the 2016 Baltes Foundation Award for her outstanding work on healthy aging. Her research focuses on the impact of individual views on aging and their role in shaping health outcomes.
Scientists have identified a new species of beaked whale using DNA analysis, with eight known specimens found across the Pacific Ocean. The new species is darker and smaller than the more common Baird's beaked whale, and its genetic differences suggest it represents a distinct species.
Researchers discovered microscopic crystals telling of unimaginable pressures and temperatures when a 12-kilometer asteroid formed Meteor Crater. The zircons endured temperatures of 2,000 degrees Celsius, revealing an unusual realm for geology where extreme pressure and temperature occur briefly.
Scientists have successfully realised qubits in a novel form, leveraging electron holes to overcome interference issues. This breakthrough offers potential improvements in programming and reading quantum bits for future quantum computers.
The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation has awarded $400,000 to researchers at Instituto Gulbenkian de Ciencia to assess the potential of a specific sugar molecule as a target for a malaria vaccine. The goal is to prevent Plasmodium transmission and achieve a world free of malaria.
Researchers have developed a new type of terahertz quantum cascade laser that can produce a record output power of up to 230 milliwatts in continuous wave mode. This breakthrough has significant implications for various applications, including spectroscopy, medical imaging, and remote sensing.
Researchers at the University of Pittsburgh are developing new hybrid materials that use light to detect chemical warfare agents. The team, led by J. Karl Johnson, is exploring the use of multifunctional metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) with plasmonic cores to selectively transport toxic chemicals for detection and neutralization.
The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute is creating a free online database of over 100 scientifically accurate 3D biomedical animations. This project, led by Dr Drew Berry, aims to provide valuable teaching and learning resources for schools and universities teaching biomedical science.
Researchers have observed a novel state of matter with quantum spin liquid properties in calcium-chromium oxide monocrystals. Despite conventional expectations, the spins remain collective and dynamic even at extremely low temperatures, exhibiting unique behavior.
The National Science Foundation has awarded over $2.5 million in research funding to Virginia Tech's Wireless@Virginia Tech for projects supporting the White House's Advanced Wireless Research Initiative. The funding will address critical issues in emerging wireless communication networks and technology.
A recent study from Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory sheds light on the critical decision every newly born cell makes: whether to continue proliferating or exit the cell-division cycle. The decision depends on delaying the expression of Cyclin E, which is regulated by a feedback loop involving ORC1 and CDC6.
Researchers aim to reduce errors in warning decisions by considering all three key aspects: who, what, and when. Effective warnings are crucial for mitigating casualties and increasing transparency.
Researchers at Washington University in St. Louis have created a new approach to purify water using graphene oxide and bacteria-produced cellulose. The bi-layered biofoam is light, strong, and flexible, allowing for efficient evaporation of contaminated water.
Professor Yiqi Luo of the University of Oklahoma has been elected as a Fellow of the American Geophysical Union for his pioneering work on data assimilation and ecological forecasting. His research focuses on predicting ecosystem responses to global change, enabling ecologists to forecast future changes in ecosystem services.
A citizen science project, SOS, uses high-resolution satellite images to help researchers count Weddell seals in the Ross Sea. By contributing to this effort, the public will aid in understanding how fishing affects seal populations and the entire ecosystem.
A 45-year study found that low physical capacity is associated with a 21% lower risk of death over four decades. The study showed that being physically active can have a significant impact on lifespan.
A new study by Binghamton University researchers suggests that organizations should consider the human side of IT errors, including mood and personality traits. The study found that developers are less likely to report self-committed errors when in a positive mood, highlighting the importance of fostering an environment where employees...
A recent study by Sanford Health identified gene mutations that could impact treatment for adult cancer patients. The study found nearly 90% of patients had genes that matched treatment options, with 40% able to receive personalized therapy.