Scientists at Salk Institute create system to rapidly map regions of DNA targeted by regulatory proteins, revealing how plants control gene expression and uncovering potential role of epigenomic marks in regulation. The technique, DAP-seq, identifies thousands of binding sites across the genome of Arabidopsis thaliana.
A team of biologists at New York University found that plants can reconstitute their stem cells from mature cells by replaying embryonic development. This process involves the recruitment of specialized cells to create a new set of stem cells, highlighting the importance of tissue behavior over stem cell properties.
Research analyzed 15 studies involving over 6,000 university students and found no significant difference in alcohol consumption or problems among fraternity members. The study suggests that stronger interventions may be needed for student members of Greek letter organizations.
A new study analyzes data from 21 countries and finds a positive correlation between electricity consumption and life satisfaction in some nations, while others show the opposite relationship. The research suggests that narrowing production-consumption gaps can improve human development outcomes.
Intensive therapies to reduce high blood pressure cut the risk of heart disease in older adults by nearly a third and death by almost a quarter. Participants with diabetes or heart failure were excluded from the trial.
The University of Huddersfield has received funding from CREST to investigate people's views and experiences on reporting suspicious activity to authorities. The project will be the first UK-based replication of a successful Australian study and aims to provide internationally comparable data on community reporting thresholds.
A new study found that interventions targeting fraternity and sorority members are unsuccessful in reducing alcohol consumption and related problems. However, interventions addressing alcohol expectancies showed promise in reducing heavy drinking on specific occasions.
Researchers at Argonne National Laboratory and Northern Illinois University have created a new material, 'rewritable magnetic charge ice,' that allows for unprecedented control over local magnetic fields. This breakthrough could pave the way for new computing technologies with denser storage capabilities and added functionality.
Scientists have identified a cytochrome P450 enzyme that allows some bird species to convert yellow pigments into red colors, enhancing color vision and possibly signaling individual quality. The discovery fills a gap in understanding the genetics of red coloration in birds, with implications for future research on evolution and ecology.
A new study from Georgia Institute of Technology found that low-income parents are less likely to use online learning tools due to differing motivations and parenting practices. This gap is exacerbated by lower perceived technical skills among low-income parents, who often downplay their abilities when accessing resources.
Researchers have discovered that cosmic heavy metals, such as gold and platinum, can be used to trace the history of galaxies. The study, published in Nature, suggests that the collision of dense stars in the universe can forge these heavy elements and provide insights into galaxy formation.
A new study from the University of Eastern Finland shows that increasing atmospheric aerosol concentration can significantly slow down and even temporarily stop global warming. Aerosol particles in the stratosphere prove extremely efficient in cooling down the climate, while those in the troposphere impact climate through cloud formation.
A Finnish study found that one in four professional athletes suffer from significant sleeping disorders, and most athletes slept too little. The study showed that general guidance, examinations when necessary, and personalized treatment plans significantly improved athletes' sleep quality.
A study by Michigan State University finds that adults with Williams syndrome are susceptible to online victimization due to their trusting nature and frequent use of social networking sites. Roughly a third of participants reported engaging in risky online behaviors without parental supervision.
Researchers developed a predictive model that uses patient-specific stem cells and genetic data to forecast heart defect types in pediatric patients. The model was tested on human cardiomyocyte cells from patients with specific mutations, achieving accurate predictions of hypertrophic or dilated cardiomyopathy.
A team of researchers from Université de Genève and EPFL found that the HOX13 architect proteins play a crucial role in the formation of both arms and hands. The study reveals how a genetic switch allows for a clear boundary between these two developmental processes.
A new educational software application, Food for Thought, is introducing middle school students to the topic of climate change and its impact on the environment. The app allows students to create a meal and visualize the nutritional data and carbon footprint associated with each food item.
BARREL's observations showed the open-closed boundary moving within minutes, providing a map of its location. Scientists can now refine simulations of how magnetic fields change around Earth due to this precise mapping.
A recent study by Johns Hopkins Kimmel Cancer Center scientists reveals that the HOXA5 protein plays a crucial role in maintaining normal breast cells' traits, such as adhesion and cell plasticity. The loss of HOXA5 leads to increased tumor aggressiveness and poorer outcomes for patients.
A USC study predicts that the US prevalence of visual impairment and blindness will more than double over the next 35 years. The number of Americans with age-related macular degeneration, glaucoma, diabetic retinopathy, and cataracts is expected to skyrocket, impacting individuals and society.
Researchers found that birds learn to distinguish distasteful prey from tasty ones using sudden displays of conspicuous color. This strategy helps the distasteful prey avoid predation by making it harder for sensitive predators to spot them.
The image reveals details as small as 20 to 30 miles across, showcasing the planet's polar caps, clouds, and vivid rust-colored landscape. The Hubble view also highlights ancient features such as Syrtis Major Planitia and Hellas Planitia basin.
Researchers at KARBio LLC and Genentech Inc. discovered that targeting human CRTh2 (hCRTh2) depletes immune cells implicated in asthma-associated inflammation, reducing cytokine production and lung inflammation in asthmatic mice. The study's findings support further exploration of hCRTh2 as a therapeutic target for asthma treatment.
A retrospective analysis suggests that regular laxative use can stabilize Parkinson's disease rigidity, pointing to potential modifications in underlying disease processes. Further research is planned to confirm the mechanisms involved.
Researchers found that antibiotic treatment in men who have sex with men (MSM) speeds up the spread of antibiotic-resistant Neisseria gonorrhoeae, contrary to intuitive expectations. The study suggests that increased screening and treatment may inadvertently drive resistance, highlighting the need for balanced treatment recommendations.
A study in mice lacking the proinflammatory signaling molecule TAK1 demonstrates protection against diet-induced obesity and insulin resistance. The removal of TAK1 from mice fed a high fat diet prevented additional weight gain and improved glucose tolerance.
Grand Challenges Canada funds nine creative ways to protect and nurture cognitive development of children in developing countries. Kangaroo Mother Care is expanded to improve lives of low birth weight infants in West Africa, while eight new innovations pursue approaches to help children reach their full potential.
A new study has confirmed the accuracy of the ACS NSQIP Surgical Risk Calculator, which estimates a patient's risk of postoperative complications. The calculator will undergo recalibration to improve its performance, addressing minor distortions in estimating risk for low- and high-risk patients.
New observations from NASA's Van Allen Probes have revealed the ring current behaves differently than previously thought. The high-energy protons in the ring current change in a completely different way from the low-energy protons, indicating a persistent ring current around Earth even during non-storm times.
A new Kaiser Permanente study found that overweight colorectal cancer patients had a significantly lower risk of death from their cancer compared to normal-weight patients. The study analyzed data from over 3,400 patients and found that those who were in the high-overweight category at diagnosis had a 55% lower risk of mortality.
The Rochester Digital Cloak uses flat screen displays to extend the range of angles that can be hidden from view. It enables cloaking large objects without requiring expensive lenses.
Researchers have developed a method called 'LIGR-Seq' to explore the functions of non-coding RNAs in human cells. The study revealed new roles for small nucleolar RNAs in regulating protein-coding mRNA stability and abundance.
A new study on Antarctica's snow core suggests that warmer temperatures and snowfall are not always linked, contradicting previous projections. Researchers found that individual snow years can have varying relationships with temperature, highlighting the importance of wind patterns in shaping Antarctic weather.
The KORUS-OC expedition will study the daily changes of the seas surrounding South Korea, focusing on phytoplankton and their role in Earth's carbon cycle. The research aims to better understand how oxygen and carbon flow between the ocean and atmosphere.
African American parents and caregivers often use egalitarian messages to teach preschoolers about race, according to a NYU study. The study found that working-class parents were more likely to use these messages than middle-class counterparts, while middle-class participants shared more instances of racial discrimination.
The prevalence of visual impairment and blindness in the US is projected to double in the next 35 years due to an aging population. Minority groups, particularly African Americans, are at a higher risk, with Hispanic individuals experiencing a significant increase in blind rates.
Researchers found that dynamic dazzle patterns can distort perceived speed, causing a targeting error of up to 2m for a Land Rover. The effect remains even with only a small patch of the pattern visible, providing potential applications for camouflage on vehicles with central doors.
Researchers from Bonn University discovered calcium phosphate as a structural biomineral in rock nettle plants, providing them with a hardened defense mechanism against herbivores. The unique material, structurally similar to reinforced concrete, is used instead of silica or calcium carbonate in most plants.
Cancer cells use notch signaling pathways, particularly jagged, to communicate and coordinate their decisions to become motile and form clusters. This discovery offers a new target for disrupting metastasis and potentially diagnosing tumor severity.
Researchers found that treatment can reduce negative life outcomes for dropouts, such as getting arrested and needing government assistance. The study also identified factors that increase the risk of dropping out, including rejection by classmates in elementary school and becoming a parent at a young age.
Researchers at Lomonosov Moscow State University develop nanoparticles that can efficiently penetrate into cancer cells, emitting light to aid in early diagnosis. The particles can also be used as targeted drug delivery systems, offering a promising approach for cancer treatment.
The University at Buffalo has partnered with the University of Zimbabwe to launch a five-year HIV research training program, supported by a $1.3 million NIH grant. The program aims to train future HIV researchers and address issues such as maternal-fetal transmission, resistance, and co-infection in Zimbabwe.
Researchers developed a bio-inspired robot that uses electrostatic forces to perch on different surfaces, reducing energy costs and increasing mission durations. The robot can resume flight after perching, making it suitable for applications such as surveying or detecting hazardous chemicals.
A newly discovered Chinese fossil, Meemannia, is the oldest known actinopterygian, providing new evidence for the origin of ray-finned fishes. The study reveals that early bony fish had 'cosmine'-like tissues, previously thought to unite lobe-fins and ray-fins, and confirms Meemannia as an early-diverging ray-finned fish.
Scientists at NYSCF Research Institute discovered strategies to prevent mitochondrial mixtures, leading to effective mitochondrial replacement. Egg freezing enables doctors to avoid synchronized ovulation between patient and donor, allowing for safer treatment of mitochondrial diseases.
Researchers at Umeå University found significant differences in vitamin E metabolites between healthy individuals and those with brain tumors. Further studies are needed to verify the link.
A new University of Toronto study examines the effect of infant vocalizations on adult cognitive conflict processing and attention. The research found that infant cries reduce attention to tasks and trigger greater cognitive conflict than infant laughs.
The USDA has awarded nearly $4 million in funding to help fight obesity and improve the health of our nation's children. The Agriculture and Food Research Initiative (AFRI) will support research to reduce the prevalence of overweight and obesity among children and adolescents ages 2-19 years.
Researchers found that hormone PYY improves insulin and glucagon secretion in rats with type 2 diabetes. Gastric bypass surgery has been shown to improve diabetes symptoms, and this study suggests a potential link between the two.
Using gene editing technology, Temple researchers successfully excised large fragments of HIV-1 DNA from the genomes of living animals, including transgenic rats and mice. This breakthrough is a significant step towards developing a potentially curative strategy for HIV infection.
Researchers discovered a way to remove acetylene from ethylene using metal-organic frameworks (MOFs), reducing the need for costly catalytic conversion. The SIFSIX MOF family can filter out contaminants with high selectivity and adsorption capacity, producing pure ethylene.
A new study finds that lowering blood pressure below current guidelines can reduce cardiovascular events and deaths in adults aged 75 and older, including those with poor health. Intensive blood pressure treatment did not increase risk of falls or serious side effects among the frail group.
Researchers have developed a system that allows RoboBees to perch in flight, saving energy. The electrostatic adhesion mechanism attracts the robot to surfaces, enabling it to extend its operational life significantly.
Researchers found that the decline in childhood obesity rates between 2003-2004 and 2011-2012 cannot be attributed to changes in maternal or child health behaviors. Despite differences in demographics and lifestyle factors, the main reason for the drop was the lower likelihood of older children being obese compared to younger ones.
Researchers discovered six VOCs responsible for bad smells on dirty clothes, which are significantly reduced after washing. The study provides new insights into the impact of washing temperatures and detergents on fabric smell, potentially leading to more environmentally friendly cleaning methods.
Researchers at ORNL have demonstrated a scalable method to produce semiconducting nanoparticles using bacteria-fed sugar at temperatures below 150 degrees Fahrenheit. This approach reduces production costs by approximately 90 percent compared to conventional methods, making it attractive for applications in electronics, displays, solar...
Researchers have identified a free radical as the key mechanism behind methane production in bacteria, resolving decades of controversy. This finding sets the stage for developing new technologies to harness and generate methane for energy purposes.
A Phase I study of plitidepsin in combination with bortezomib and dexamethasone demonstrated a 56% overall response rate, including very good partial responses. The treatment was well-tolerated, with no dose-limiting toxicities, and showed clinical benefit in 72% of patients.
Research found that high levels of the protein p62 are strongly associated with cancer recurrence and reduced patient survival in human liver samples. In mice, p62 was required for liver cancer to form. The study suggests p62 could be used as a prognostic marker and potential therapeutic target for liver cancer.
A comprehensive review found that refugee children can perform similarly to their peers academically with adequate support, despite experiencing behavioral and emotional issues. Key factors for success include high academic ambition, parental support, and language proficiency.