Researchers discovered that biological molecules can change the shape of minerals by controlling how they link together, a process that could lead to the development of new drugs and synthetic materials. The study's findings shed light on the importance of chirality in drug development, as seen in the devastating Thalidomide tragedy.
A study published in Arthritis Care & Research found that knee buckling is a significant cause of falls and injuries in older adults with knee osteoarthritis. Targeted exercises and joint replacement surgery may help prevent knee instability and reduce the risk of falls.
Researchers at Georgia State University found no evidence of a genetic overlap between risk for schizophrenia and smaller subcortical brain volumes in a global study involving nearly 600 researchers. The study analyzed brain scans from almost 12,000 individuals worldwide to examine the genetic basis of schizophrenia.
Children with ADHD are more likely to experience persistent symptoms if their parents express high levels of criticism over time, according to a new study. Sustained parental criticism was associated with the continuation of ADHD symptoms in children who had been diagnosed with ADHD.
A recent study published in Nature Communications reveals that Australopithecus sediba, a possible early human ancestor, had a significant limitation in its ability to bite powerfully. The team used biomechanical testing and computer modeling to demonstrate that biting too hard would have dislocated the jaw of this species.
The James Webb Space Telescope will study planets, moons, comets and asteroids in our solar system to understand its formation and potential habitability. Scientists envision monitoring the water cycle on Mars, studying weather patterns on Saturn's moon Titan, and tracking comets to better comprehend our solar system's evolution.
A study found that patients treated with nasoalveolar molding required fewer surgeries and had reduced healthcare costs compared to those without NAM treatment. This technique, which molds the lip, nose, and gums before surgery, improves outcomes and reduces complications.
Researchers identified two tiny clusters of neurons responsible for transforming normal breaths into sighs. Sighing is vital to lung function and helps preserve lung function, but frequent sighing can be debilitating.
The Journal of Pain Research publishes commentary on terminology of chronic pain, highlighting the need to redefine terms to better understand and treat patients. The authors suggest using origin- and generator-based terms to improve diagnosis and treatment outcomes.
Rice University bioengineers have found new techniques for precision genome editing that are more accurate and have fewer off-target errors. The new strategies use biological catalysts capable of cutting DNA called 'engineered nucleases' to maximize on-target gene editing.
Researchers aim to unlock the secret of nitrogen fixation in legumes, which could revolutionize agriculture by reducing fertilizer usage and saving billions of dollars. The project will use advanced DNA sequencing and computational analysis to understand the signaling between plants and bacteria in the root nodules.
The American College of Physicians recommends using either cognitive behavioral therapy or second-generation antidepressants to treat adults with major depressive disorder. Both treatments are found to be similarly effective for treating depression, and physicians should consider a discussion with the patient about treatment effects, a...
Researchers at Stanford University School of Medicine developed a possible new method for preventing jet lag by exposing people to short flashes of light while they sleep. The study found that this method can speed up the brain's adjustment to time changes, reducing the delay in onset of sleepiness.
A new study found that exposure to air pollution more than 30 years ago can still affect an individual's mortality risk today. The research, published in the journal Thorax, estimated air pollution levels in areas where individuals lived in 1971, 1981, 1991 and 2001, using historic air quality measurements.
Jean Maria Arrigo received the AAAS Scientific Freedom and Responsibility Award for her tireless efforts to expose the American Psychological Association's (APA) complicity in torture and abuse. She stood against the APA's Task Force on Psychological Ethics and National Security, which justified coercive interrogations, and instead adv...
A study by the University of Houston and UTMB found that urine drug screenings for chronic pain patients increase patient safety but raise the risk that patients won't return for future treatment. The screenings were associated with a higher no-show rate among patients, even those who tested negative.
Researchers have discovered a way to make certain materials superconduct at more than 100 degrees Kelvin, eliminating the need for liquid nitrogen or helium. This breakthrough could lead to new routes and insights into making better superconductors that work at higher temperatures.
Researchers used model blood vessel systems to show that white blood cells' mechanical properties determine their location within the circulation. The study found that changes in cell stiffness can be triggered by drugs commonly used to fight inflammation or boost blood pressure.
Scientists have identified the genetic makeup of deadly E. coli strains, which kill hundreds of thousands worldwide each year. The study could lead to better understanding of bacterial damage and more effective treatments for diarrheal diseases, a leading cause of child mortality.
A new indexing data structure, called Sequence Bloom Trees, greatly speeds up searches of a massive bioinformatics database. The method completed most searches in an average of 20 minutes, while existing techniques took days.
Researchers have found an epigenetic mechanism implicated in the regulation of blood sugar, with the TXNIP gene associated with diabetes mellitus type 2 and poor glucose control. The study's results could help identify patients at risk of developing diabetes and develop new therapies.
Scientists have discovered a way to generate very low-resistance electric current in zirconium pentatelluride, a semi-metallic material. The discovery relies on the separation of right- and left-handed particles, creating a powerful electric current.
A new literature review suggests that a team-based care approach, combining newer pain management strategies, is key to maximizing patient outcomes after total knee replacement (TKR) procedures. Multimodal protocols, including regional anesthesia and intra-operative pain injections, have been shown to lower patient pain severity rating...
A new study from Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health found that vaccinations in 94 low- and middle-income countries could save up to $44 for every dollar spent. The study estimated a total cost of immunization programs at $34 billion, with averted costs of illness totaling $586 billion.
Researchers discovered that TBX5 mutations lead to the inappropriate activation of cancer and neural genes in the developing heart, contributing to congenital heart disease. The study provides insight into how patients develop heart disease and a roadmap for future studies on other genetic defects.
A new algorithm combines traditional computer vision classification with deep learning models to improve pedestrian detection speed and accuracy. The technology has the potential to be used in smart vehicles, robotics, and image/video search systems.
Scientists have developed a minimally-invasive brain-machine interface to control an exoskeleton with the power of thought. The stentrode device can record high-quality signals emitted from the brain's motor cortex without open brain surgery.
Researchers evaluated the performance of Riegl Z620i and LPM-800HA terrestrial laser scanners on characterizing natural surfaces. They established a procedure to test componential uncertainty budgets and demonstrated the relationship between reference network uncertainty and imaged surface repeatability.
Researchers found that tropical secondary forests exhibit a high level of resilience and can sequester large amounts of carbon. These new-growth forests have accumulated enough biomass to uptake 3.05 tons of carbon per hectare per year, 11 times the rate of old-growth forests.
A team of Dutch investigators has identified NS4B as a potential target for antiviral drug development against dengue virus. A metabolite of acetaminophen, AM404, inhibits replication of the virus. The researchers found that mutations in the viral NS4B protein render the virus insensitive to AM404.
A four-year project aims to investigate the effect of supplementing dairy cows with organic oregano on reducing methane emissions. The goal is to show a 25% reduction in methane production through the addition of oregano, benefiting both the climate and organic farmers.
The Zika virus is primarily transmitted by Aedes mosquitoes, which also spread dengue and chikungunya viruses. Physicians should be aware of symptoms in travelers returning from affected regions and consider Guillain-Barré syndrome and microcephaly as potential complications.
Researchers warn of the need for more basic research on rewilding's consequences before implementing it as a major conservation approach. The authors advocate for focusing on protecting biodiversity and reducing environmental threats instead.
Researchers at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital have discovered a unique mechanism underlying Ph-like ALL, a particularly aggressive form of acute lymphoblastic leukemia. The findings reveal that chromosomal rearrangements lead to the activation of a truncated EPOR gene, driving white blood cells to proliferate out of control.
Researchers found that hormone AVP increases willingness to cooperate in humans, mimicking pair bonding in rodents. The study used a game to test the effect of AVP on cooperative behavior, with participants who received the hormone more likely to cooperate than those who did not.
Assistant Professor Yuze Sun is developing an all-liquid optofluidic laser for cancer detection and other biosensing applications. The laser's adaptive nature achieves high-precision tuning, making it biocompatible and bioconfigurable.
Researchers at UT Southwestern Medical Center developed a nanoparticle therapy that combines LDL and fish oil to preferentially kill primary liver cancer cells. The approach shows significant anti-cancer activity, with over 80% of tumor cells dying, and holds promise for potentially treating other cancers.
Researchers found that metformin enhances new blood vessel formation and reverses oxygen delay during a heart attack. The study suggests that the medication can aid in heart attack recovery by promoting the growth of new blood vessels.
A recent study published in the Journal of Clinical Investigation found that antiretroviral therapy significantly reduces HIV transmission in the female reproductive tract, regardless of exposure method. This discovery has significant implications for future HIV prevention, vaccine, and cure research.
Exercise scientists at BYU found that the immune system's T-cells infiltrate damaged muscle fibers, facilitating accelerated repair and reduced muscle soreness after repeated exercise bouts. This discovery challenges previous assumptions about inflammation and its role in exercise-induced muscle damage.
Indiana University faculty experts will present at the 2016 Annual Meeting of the American Association for the Advancement of Science. Katy Börner will discuss visual analytics and data visualization techniques, while Noretta Koertge will explore scientific virtues and research ethics.
A large-scale study found a significant link between traffic-related air pollution and the formation of lentigenes (facial dark spots) on cheeks of Asian women over 50. The study also showed that exposure to nitrogen dioxide gas had a stronger impact on dark spot formation than particulate matter.
Babies born to mothers exposed to air pollution from traffic sources during pregnancy have an increased risk of developing asthma before the age of 5 years. Exposure to nitrogen dioxide and carbon monoxide, two markers of traffic-related air pollution, was found to increase this risk.
Researchers identify subset of first-degree relatives at higher MS risk; study to map events leading from health to disease. The Genes and Environment in Multiple Sclerosis (GEMS) project aims to develop interventions to block MS onset.
Coralline algae, crucial for marine biodiversity, are becoming less robust due to ocean acidification. The skeletal structure of these algae is vulnerable to changes in carbonate chemistry, which can lead to habitat loss and reduced support for other species.
A new study finds that carbon emissions will have long-lasting impacts on the planet, with some effects lasting over 100,000 years. The researchers warn that reducing emissions slightly or significantly is not sufficient to prevent catastrophic consequences.
Researchers have discovered a new bacterial species, B. mayonii, that causes Lyme disease in people in the upper Midwestern US. The species was previously unknown and has been identified through PCR testing of patient samples.
Researchers at Carnegie Institution explore the rules behind metallic glasses, materials that are stronger and more resistant than traditional metals. By studying alloys under extreme pressures, they found a consistent numeric relationship between structure and properties, which could aid further discovery and synthesis.
A study by Kansas State University found that millennials prefer ethical chocolate but only make a small percentage of purchases based on these values. The majority of participants expressed strong preferences for clean labels and minimal concern for ethical factors in their choice behavior.
Researchers discovered that gut microbiomes play a role in reducing the severity of malaria. Mice fed yogurt with specific bacteria showed decreased malaria pathology. The study provides a potential new approach to developing treatments for malaria.
Children diagnosed with type 1 diabetes before age seven develop a more aggressive form of the disease compared to teenagers. Researchers found that those diagnosed in childhood retain fewer insulin-producing beta cells than previously thought.
Researchers determine when coral died with precision of up to one to two years, revealing dramatic loss of coral cover near Bowen, Queensland. The study provides a benchmark for monitoring the recovery of these reefs.
Researchers at Karolinska Institutet have determined the 3D structure of Juno, a mammalian egg protein essential for triggering gamete fusion. The study reveals that changes in Juno's shape alter its ability to bind with sperm protein Izumo1, bringing scientists closer to understanding fertilization.
Researchers developed a muscle-on-a-chip model that demonstrates how cardiac stem cell therapies can fail due to inefficient force transmission between new and old heart cells. The study suggests that mechanical forces are not transmitted properly, leading to the formation of cellular adhesions that dissipate force to surrounding tissues.
Researchers at Columbia University's Mailman School of Public Health review vaccination policies, finding that states like Mississippi and West Virginia have high immunization rates with strict exemption laws. The authors suggest alternatives to eliminating nonmedical exemptions entirely, including making them more difficult to obtain.
The Independent Data Monitoring Committee has recommended continuing the Phase III trial with PM1183 due to positive safety data from the first 80 patients. The trial assesses PM1183's efficacy compared to standard treatments for platinum-resistant ovarian cancer.
A multicomponent intervention including reminders, swim shirts, and read-along books increased sun-protection behaviors among young children, while also reducing changes in skin pigment. The study found that the intervention was more effective than usual information provided during well-child visits.
Oxford University researchers have identified the origins of severe disease-causing mutations within the testicles of healthy men. These mutations are linked to an increased risk of rare diseases in children born to older fathers, highlighting a potential 'timebomb' for families.
A research team found that a geologic event known as diking can cause strong earthquakes, with the potential to pose hazards to nearby communities. The team investigated ties between two natural disasters in the Democratic Republic of Congo and discovered that a dike intrusion could have induced a magnitude 6.2 earthquake.
A Yale study applying evolutionary biology tools sheds light on cancer's genetic origins and tumor progression. The research mapped genetic mutations in normal, primary, and metastatic tumor tissue, revealing that metastases originate from different paths within primary tumors and can diverge early in cancer history.