Researchers linked changing sea ice to shifting beluga whale migration patterns over two decades, finding whales adapt to varying sea ice conditions. Continued reductions in sea ice may result in increased predation and shifts in behavior, impacting population viability and ecosystem structure.
New research suggests that food restriction increases levels of tumor-suppressing molecule p53 in mice and human hepatocytes. This p53-induction is required for fasting-induced adaptation of nutrient metabolism, offering new therapeutic concepts for metabolic diseases and cancer.
Researchers used 3D electron microscopy to visualize collagen cables in skeletal muscle fibrosis, a roadblock to muscle recovery. Targeting these cables could provide treatments for conditions like muscular dystrophy, cerebral palsy, and age-related muscle loss, improving muscle function and reducing pain.
A study published in PLOS ONE found that environmental DNA (eDNA) sampling correlates closely with trawl catches of subarctic, deepwater fish species in Greenland. This non-invasive method detected a higher abundance of the Greenland Shark and identified 26 families of fish, including rays and halibut.
Scientists have developed a new solar smart window that can turn opaque on demand for added privacy, while also powering other devices using excess energy. The innovative window uses liquid crystals and an amorphous silicon layer to achieve this functionality.
A new study by TSRI researchers suggests that disruptions in circadian rhythms may leave levels of an important cancer-linked protein, called cMYC, unchecked. This connection has significant implications for the link between daily rhythms and cell growth.
A new study from Oregon State University found that 35% of chronically ill middle-aged women don't use the internet for self-care, while fewer than half use online forums to connect with others. The research suggests that lower-resourced individuals are more likely to be excluded from online resources.
A new Concordia research study examines sources of streamflow variability and change in Alberta's headwaters, providing a scientific methodology to understand the effects of natural and anthropogenic drivers on river flows. The study aims to develop effective management strategies for water security in Canada and globally.
A randomized controlled trial found that physiotherapy treatment for mild to moderate ankle sprains has little clinical benefit compared to basic self-management. Fewer than half of patients achieved 'excellent recovery' by six months in the physiotherapy group.
Shuffler, a new program, continuously scrambles code to prevent hackers from exploiting bugs and carrying out malicious activities. The technique is faster and more user-friendly than existing solutions, making it a promising defense against cyber attacks.
Research reveals that cells use a shared molecular network to respond to both chemical and mechanical cues, allowing them to combine conflicting signals into a unified path. This finding takes scientists closer to understanding biological processes like embryonic development, tumor metastasis, and wound healing.
A new approach, SystemChange, focuses on manipulating environments to change habits without relying on individual motivation. This approach has proven effective in reducing screen time, improving sleep, and developing healthy eating and exercise habits.
A University of Rochester Medical Center study reveals that e-cigarettes can cause damage to gums and teeth, similar to conventional cigarettes. The study found that flavoring chemicals play a role in damaging cells in the mouth, and nicotine contributes to gum disease.
A study found that New York City ATM keypads are inhabited by microorganisms primarily from human skin and household surfaces, as well as residual DNA from consumed food. The bacterial diversity was low, with clustering largely absent by geography.
Two new species of lizards, Liolaemus janequeoae and Liolaemus leftrarui, have been discovered in the Andean highlands of Southern Chile. These species were named after courageous tribal chiefs who fought against colonial Spaniards during the Arauco war.
A new study by Imperial College London suggests that steroid injections into the ear are as effective as gentamicin in treating severe Meniere's disease. Patients who received steroid injections had better speech discrimination and fewer side effects compared to those who received gentamicin.
RIT researchers Aaron Gerace and Matt Montanaro developed an innovative algorithm to improve the accuracy of Landsat 8 data by correcting stray light in the thermal infrared sensor. The new method, approved by NASA and USGS, provides clear improvement in image quality and accurate temperature measurements.
Researchers found microstructural brain alternations in autism spectrum disorder using Automated Fiber Quantification technique, which provides increased sensitivity to white matter changes. The study supports the hypothesis that autism is caused by large-scale disruptions in brain connectivity.
A new study suggests that social determinants of health and disability significantly impact readmission risk for patients with heart failure, pneumonia, or a heart attack. The factors that make the most difference vary greatly from condition to condition, and are largely not something a hospital can change through treatment.
Researchers investigated Nepalese porters' load-carrying techniques and found that they do not use energy-conserving mechanisms like African women. Instead, porters move at a slow speed and take frequent breaks to conserve energy.
A random mutation in a single-celled organism created a new family of proteins that are essential for the evolution of animals. The mutation altered the protein's flexibility, allowing it to advance to a new function and play a key role in multicellular life.
New research published in The FASEB Journal suggests that IL-10 may protect against the normal insulin resistance associated with aging. Scientists used transgenic mice to show that IL-10 helped reduce inflammation and insulin resistance in skeletal muscle, a significant step toward improving quality of life as people age.
Cardiologists must adapt to emerging payment models to improve value, according to a review by George Washington University researcher Steven Farmer. The review explores existing and emerging payment and delivery reforms that will affect cardiologists and their practices.
The Carl R. Woese Institute has received a $100,000 Grand Challenges Explorations Grant to study antimicrobial resistance in mobile microbiomes. The research aims to better understand how AMR genes spread in different environments and develop targeted measures to slow its transmission.
Researchers developed a tiny, soft, and wearable acoustic sensor that measures vibrations in the human body, allowing for monitoring of human heart health and recognition of spoken words. The device can gather continuous physiological data and has implications for remote healthcare and communication for people with speech impairments.
Lyndra's technology enables prolonged gastric residence and can deliver small molecule therapies for up to seven days. The study demonstrated the long-acting controlled release of invermectin for up to 14 days, promising a significant dent in the problem of patients not taking their medicines as prescribed.
A new study at the University of Kansas investigates the potential of transcranial direct current stimulation for depression therapy. Researchers will apply a safe, low current of electricity to the brain and measure changes in brain chemistry and neural activity among participants.
A new study found that fathers' warmth positively affects teenagers' optimism, self-efficacy, and academic achievement. Fathers' involvement is particularly beneficial for low-income families, leading to better math grades and language ability in girls and boys.
Researchers developed a hydrogel-based embolic agent that can form robust and safe blockages in blood vessels, eliminating common caveats of existing embolization methods. The new approach holds promise for treating patients with bleeding disorders or receiving blood-thinners.
Researchers from Slovenia and South Africa discovered heterospecific mating in African golden orbweb spiders, where males mate with females of different species. The study suggests that such interactions could play a role in determining community structure and may be costly to rarest species.
A subsurface ocean of water ice may lie beneath Pluto's heart-shaped region, aligning almost exactly opposite its moon Charon. The existence of this ocean solves a longstanding puzzle and provides an explanation for the planet's gravitational tug-of-war with its moon.
A study by Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health found that some hog workers are carrying livestock-associated, antibiotic-resistant bacteria in their noses and may be developing skin infections. The researchers suggest that these bacteria can spread more broadly between animals and humans if not properly controlled.
A five-year WHO investigation found treated bed nets continue to provide significant protection from malaria, despite rising insecticide resistance. The study supports the continued use of long-lasting insecticidal nets and calls for investments in new malaria-fighting tools to accelerate progress towards global elimination goals.
Scripps Florida scientists have identified a specific signaling circuit in the brain involved in motor activity, which could lead to therapies for untreatable brain disorders. A protein interaction network helps control motor function by inhibiting dopamine signaling.
The UTSA SBDC Technology Commercialization Center and Office of Commercialization Innovation have secured a $500,000 matching grant from the EDA for their three-year project. This grant will facilitate knowledge transfer, technology commercialization, and entrepreneurship capacity-building activities in four regions of Texas.
The 2016 AAAS Kavli Science Journalism Awards honored journalists for their consequential medical research stories, including a Swedish documentary that raised questions about a surgeon's research conduct. The awards also recognized investigative reporting on topics such as breast cancer and research ethics.
An international team of astronomers has imaged the Eta Carinae star system in unprecedented detail, revealing a region where extremely high-velocity stellar winds collide. The observations provide valuable insights into the basic parameters of the binary system and its internal structure.
Researchers at Tel Aviv University have identified a gene that may permit early detection of Alzheimer's disease. The RGS2 gene is involved in neurotransmission signaling and its reduced expression increases the sensitivity of brain neurons to toxic effects of amyloid-β, a protein associated with the disease.
A study led by the University of Washington found that large forest die-offs can alter global climate patterns and affect vegetation on the other side of the world. Removing trees in western North America causes cooling in Siberia, while forests in South America benefit from increased precipitation.
The Brookhaven-led SOLLVE project aims to standardize OpenMP functionality features for exascale applications, while the CODAR co-design center focuses on developing services for online data analysis and reduction. This will enable scientists to gain insights from data at exascale systems.
Researchers have developed a dry adhesive that bonds in extreme temperatures, offering properties for space exploration and electronics management. The gecko-inspired adhesive maintains strength in liquid nitrogen and molten silver, and even gets stickier with increasing heat.
Researchers at ORNL discovered using high pressures to initiate chemical reactions, opening a new pathway for synthesizing novel materials. This process may also help explain the formation of complex carbon structures observed in interstellar space.
A groundbreaking study in Uganda finds that self-injection of the Sayana Press contraceptive is both feasible and highly acceptable among women. The research suggests that this method can increase convenience and privacy for women seeking family planning options.
Researchers found that four key muscle-cell proteins undergo a critical splicing transition in fetal forms, essential for adult muscle function. Disrupting this transition leads to major structural problems and muscle weakness in adult mice, highlighting the importance of alternative splicing in maintaining muscle health.
A new ingestible capsule can deliver drugs for weeks, potentially revolutionizing treatment against malaria and other diseases with poor adherence. The star-shaped capsule was successfully tested in pigs and showed promise in boosting local malaria elimination when combined with standard anti-malarial drugs.
Dusa McDuff and Dietmar Salamon will receive the 2017 AMS Steele Prize for Exposition for their comprehensive book on J-holomorphic curves and symplectic topology. The prize recognizes their contributions to the field, which has rapid development since Mikhael Gromov's introduction of J-holomorphic curves in 1985.
A team from North Carolina State University has created an efficient method for analyzing data from wearables to track physical activity. By adjusting the time increment used to assess activity, they were able to accurately identify five activities (golfing, biking, walking, waving, and sitting) while reducing power consumption.
A new study by University of Lincoln and Newcastle University researchers shows that pigs' moods and personalities influence their outlooks, similar to humans. Pigs living in better environments are more optimistic, while those in worse environments are more pessimistic.
Scientists have successfully synchronized two types of nano-oscillators, one driven and the other mutual, achieving robust synchronization over long distances. This breakthrough enables future oscillatory networks for wave-based neuromorphic computing.
A novel study at the University of Warwick aims to design a package of care and support for people with chronic pain to overcome obstacles to returning to work. The study will use Individual Placement Support (IPS) and provide work placements, aiming to improve health outcomes and quality of life.
A new European study published in BMJ Quality and Safety found that hospitals employing more nurse assistants than professional nurses have higher mortality rates, lower patient satisfaction, and poorer quality of care. The study highlights the risks to patient safety and quality in these settings.
Insilico Medicine developed a novel tool, iPANDA, to derive new insights from gene expression repositories. The method combines precalculated gene coexpression data with gene importance factors for obtaining pathway activation scores, producing highly consistent sets of biologically relevant biomarkers.
A study by University of Arizona researcher Nolan L. Cabrera found that college-age white men have a limited understanding of whiteness and racial privilege. The men often ignored or downplayed issues of race and racism, leading to a lack of critical self-awareness.
Researchers at Université Laval found that e-cigarette vapor kills a large number of mouth cells within days, damaging the mouth's first line of defense against microbial infection. The study exposed gingival epithelial cells to e-cigarette vapor and observed significant cell death after just one day
A study by Ohio State University researchers found significant changes in the brain makeup of fetuses and newborn rats exposed to allergens during pregnancy. Animals exposed before birth showed signs of hyperactivity, antisocial behavior, and decreased anxiety, similar to ADHD. The study could help explain the links between maternal al...
Senior officials from the FDA and NIA joined advocates and researchers to discuss collaborations for advancing Alzheimer's disease knowledge into clinical trials. The meeting aimed to identify reliable biomarkers and symptomatic approaches to improve treatment of major behavioral and psychiatric aspects of the disease.
Researchers used asteroseismology to determine the oblateness of a slowly rotating star, revealing a difference of only 3 kilometers between equatorial and polar radii. The star's small oblateness is surprising, as it rotates three times more slowly than the Sun.
Researchers at Lehigh University developed a 3D-printed wing attachment inspired by owl feathers, reducing wind turbine noise by 10 decibels without impacting aerodynamics. The design can also reduce roughness and trailing-edge noise, with implications for improving man-made aerodynamic designs.
George Washington University researchers received a $2.2 million grant from the National Cancer Institute to investigate the role of human endogenous retroviruses (HERVs) in cancer development. They plan to use a novel computational pathway program, Telescope, to pinpoint HERV expression in various cancers.
A team of physicians at LSU Health New Orleans has developed a novel technique to identify hidden sources of gastrointestinal bleeding. The method, which combines endoscopy with the administration of antiplatelet or anticoagulant agents, was found to be safe and effective in identifying the source of bleeding in 56% of patients.