A large-scale study by Duke University researchers found that India's World Health Partners (WHP) Sky program had no impact on improving healthcare for children with diarrhea and pneumonia. Despite its $23 million funding, the program failed to increase access to proper treatment or change healthcare utilization patterns.
The University of Missouri has received a significant grant from the NIH to develop new hepatitis B treatments. Researchers will focus on targeting the viral capsid, which is crucial for HBV's lifecycle and stability. The goal is to create therapeutic strategies that not only suppress the virus but also have the potential to eradicate it.
Researchers found that glial cells, including astrocytes, are impaired by the genetic defect and involved in symptoms of fragile X syndrome. The study suggests looking beyond neuronal effects to fully understand the disease.
Researchers at Rochester Institute of Technology are studying the long-term impact of pre-college computing activities on K-12 students. They aim to identify effective practices for engaging diverse groups, particularly underrepresented ones, to pursue careers in technology.
Scientists have developed a glucose-sensing contact lens that utilizes surface-enhanced Raman scattering spectroscopy to detect glucose levels in tears. The device, built from multiple layers of gold nanowires, enhances the sensing properties by creating hot spots within the nanostructure.
A quantitative model considers different rates of sea-level rise and economic factors to show optimal adaptation strategies. Researchers found that a buffer zone along the shoreline might make more sense if the sea level is going to rise quickly, but building near the coast could be suitable if buildings don't last very long.
A new method of evaluation, using the cephalic width-intercoronal distance ratio, has been recommended to help determine when surgical intervention is needed for infants with fused cranial sutures. This measurement indicates a potential need for surgery in cases where the front and back of the skull are not proportionate.
Researchers used unmanned aircraft to measure turbulent kinetic energy, aerosol particle concentration, and temperature fluctuations near the Earth's surface. The study found that black carbon aerosols suppress turbulence in the atmospheric boundary layer, exacerbating human health impacts and extreme weather events.
A Swedish participant with a permanent sensory connection between his prosthesis and nervous system is competing in the Cybathlon, a new international competition showcasing advanced robotic prostheses. The event aims to drive forward prosthetic technology development, promoting dialogue between academia and industry.
Researchers have identified a strategy to selectively sensitize certain cancer cells to radiation therapy using antibody drug conjugates (ADCs), which could improve tumor control and reduce treatment-related side effects in HER2-positive tumors. The study shows promise in sensitizing these cancers to radiation and chemotherapy.
Nair's work aims to treat inborn errors of metabolism using naturally occurring safe gut bacteria. He seeks new treatment options for congenital orphan diseases caused by improper food metabolism.
Research shows that trained nurses can significantly increase quit rates among hospital patients. The study found that patients who received coaching from a nurse had higher self-reported and lab-confirmed quit rates compared to those who did not receive similar training.
Researchers at OIST have made significant breakthroughs in perovskite solar cells, improving efficiency, stability, and scalability. New post-annealing treatments and manufacturing methods have increased conversion efficiency to 18.4%, while discovering new decomposition products has led to the development of more stable materials.
A team of mathematicians, physicists, and engineers tackled a famous 50-year-old problem tied to solitary waves. They developed a mathematical approach that produces an approximate solution to the Korteweg-de Vries equation, enabling researchers to make explicit predictions about soliton formation and properties.
The University of Texas at Arlington's CLEAR lab will continue to research air and water quality monitoring studies and develop effective corrective strategies to limit negative ecological impacts. A partnership with Earth Day Texas will host a conference on responsible shale energy extraction.
A comprehensive set of reference values for handgrip strength is provided, enabling practitioners to identify individuals at risk of premature death and disease. The study builds on previous research, showing that handgrip strength corresponds with markers of age, such as mortality, disability, and cognitive decline.
A genetic study has pinpointed a gene variant associated with childhood ear infections, providing an early clue for developing more effective treatments. Researchers found that children with the variant are more susceptible to acute otitis media (AOM), a painful condition requiring antibiotics.
Researchers found that providing tips and personalized feedback was just as effective as access to online social networking sites in promoting physical activity. Interventions were most effective among participants with low initial physical activity levels, suggesting a need for stronger reinforcers to motivate population-wide changes.
Researchers have discovered a fluid behaving like water when trapped in a nanocage of a porous solid, offering new insights into nanoscale behavior. This breakthrough may lead to the design of machines with specific functions, including medical applications and molecular electronics.
Scientists from Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory have developed a highly accurate DNA-based method to detect and distinguish sources of microbial contamination in water. The new method, using the award-winning PhyloChip, was found to be more sensitive than conventional methods at assessing health risks.
The stability of qubits can be maintained 100 times more effectively in silicon than in gallium arsenide, allowing for longer coherence times and improved gate fidelity. Researchers are now focused on scaling up the qubits for use in circuits of multiple interplaying qubits.
New research challenges the use of ice baths after exercise, suggesting they may not reduce inflammation in muscles. The study found no significant benefit from cold water immersion on muscle inflammation compared to active recovery.
Researchers at the University of Bradford have discovered a way to prevent chemotherapy resistance in lung cancer by blocking a protein called Ran-GTP. Suppressing this protein also causes cancer cells resistant to gefitinib to become re-sensitized, offering new hope for treatment.
Researchers found Zika virus does not multiply in Culex mosquitoes, disappearing instead, enabling targeted control strategies. The study's findings are crucial for controlling Zika in Florida and preventing its spread.
A new report by IUCN highlights the impact of rising ocean temperatures on human health, with spreading marine-related tropical diseases and harmful algal blooms. The study found that Vibrio vulnifucus bacteria has been linked to outbreaks in previously unaffected regions, posing a significant threat to public health.
Tropical Storm Nicole has formed about 500 miles northeast of Puerto Rico, with a well-defined circulation and maximum sustained winds near 50 mph. The storm is expected to move northwest at 8 mph, then turn north-northwest with decreasing speed over the next couple of days.
Researchers identified individual strategies like mindfulness training and organizational changes such as limiting duty hours, which are effective in reducing physician burnout. The study's findings suggest that a combination of interventions may be needed for long-term benefits.
A study by mathematicians at the University of Strathclyde found that intense Atlantic storms coincide with high spring tides to cause devastating flooding in the Firth of Clyde. The research used a three-dimensional hydrodynamic model to simulate sea-level surges during storms, revealing the highest risk of flooding occurs when storms...
A recent archaeological analysis has found that early settlers of Tonga and Vanuatu originated from Melanesia, challenging the long-held assumption about the colonization of the region. The research team's findings point to a previously unknown migration wave from the Solomon Islands chain.
Fruit fly research sheds light on human diabetes, revealing insulin signaling mechanisms and potential new treatments for the disease. The study's findings have implications for understanding and addressing type 2 diabetes.
Americans have divided views on climate change causes, cures, and scientist trust; liberal Democrats generally support science role in policy. Moderate views exist on individual actions to reduce climate change.
Leading health professionals call for drastic reductions in CO2 and short-lived climate pollutants to stabilize the climate and reduce major health threats. Reducing these pollutants can prevent up to 2.4 million premature deaths annually, they argue.
Scientists at UFZ have created a detailed energy-transition map of Germany, highlighting regional differences in renewable energy production. The map shows that coastal areas are leaders in wind and solar farms, while cities like Berlin struggle to keep up with their consumption.
A staggering proportion of children under five may not reach their developmental potential due to poverty and chronic undernutrition. Research highlights the critical role of early childhood development in shaping future health, economic, and social outcomes.
Researchers found that sleep deprivation in children increases deep sleep in the parietal and occipital lobes, which are involved in spatial perception and processing multi-sensorial input. The level of myelin content in these brain regions is associated with the deep-sleep effect.
Researchers at Penn State and EPFL developed an AI model to recognize specific plant diseases from images, achieving an accuracy rate of 99.35% in a public dataset. The technology has great potential for supplementing existing disease diagnosis methods and could be implemented on smartphones, especially in developing countries.
A new study identifies a previously unknown 'off-switch' for cancer based on the protein TMX1, which can slow down tumor growth and promote resistance to cell death mechanisms. This breakthrough offers hope for developing new therapeutic approaches and improving chemotherapy efficiency.
Researchers found a connection between unusually warm ocean conditions and the magnitude of the toxic bloom, which resulted in the highest levels of domoic acid contamination. The study identified a single species of diatom as the dominant cause of the bloom, leading to widespread ecosystem damage.
A randomized trial found that using an activity tracker did not increase physical activity enough to benefit health, even with financial incentives. Despite initial increases in exercise levels, participants stopped using the devices once incentives were removed.
The National Science Foundation is funding a project to develop non-destructive analysis of plant leaves in breeding lines, enabling rapid screening of breeding materials. The goal is to produce higher-indicin yielding breeders seed stock, increasing the cost-competitiveness of plant-derived indigo dye.
A new study suggests that affluent women's ability to seek help for domestic violence is hindered by societal expectations of perfectionism and social status. Women who 'bought in' to the culture of affluence reported feeling pressured to maintain a happy family image, preventing them from disclosing abuse.
Research on therapeutic antibodies for spinal cord injury reveals potential applications in myelin repair, neuroprotection, axon outgrowth, and anti-immune reaction. Several antibodies are reviewed as reagents to promote neurite outgrowth and inhibit immune responses.
A new mobile app, TOLF, is being developed to assist breast cancer survivors in identifying and treating lymphedema through self-assessment tools, avatar videos for exercise guidance, and symptom management features. Researchers found that 90% of participants reported no problems using the system.
A new study suggests that CPAP therapy may help improve nocturnal gastroesophageal reflux symptoms in patients with obstructive sleep apnea. The mean heartburn score decreased by 62 percent among sleep apnea patients who were adherent to CPAP therapy.
Scientists have created peptide-based materials that can reorganize their sequences to adapt to their environment, paving the way for new product possibilities including drug delivery, food science, and cosmetics. The method allows for unbiased discovery of optimized structures through self-selection.
Researchers have found a way to restore youthful DNA length in aging cardiac stem cells, improving their ability to form new blood vessels and regenerate heart tissue. The treatment uses a drug to temporarily wake up the cells, making them more responsive to low-oxygen conditions.
Researchers at Argonne National Laboratory have developed a method to grow high-quality graphene on ultrananocrystalline diamond, reducing impurities and costs. The new process uses nickel to facilitate the growth of defect-free graphene, enabling its exploitation for advanced electronics and applications.
Researchers found that a specific strain of Bifidobacterium longum AH1206 can establish itself in the human gut and remain there for up to 6 months. The study suggests that individualized features of the resident microbiome play a crucial role in the persistence of this strain, enabling personalized probiotic treatments.
A 10-year study found that moderate to high caffeine consumption was linked to a 36% reduced risk of dementia. The researchers analyzed data from over 6,400 postmenopausal women and adjusted for various risk factors.
Researchers at Kansas State University are studying the health benefits and challenges of US tiny house villages. The study aims to understand how living in a tiny house community affects residents' physical activity, indoor air quality, and overall well-being.
The Hastings Center Report explores the implications of precision medicine on ethics and society. The article highlights how the term change from 'personalized' to 'precision' medicine brings new ethical and social concerns, including promoting medical paternalism. It also discusses the risks of stigmatizing certain populations and pri...
A new study by Duke University identified a threshold for permanent spill-induced erosion in salt marshes, with erosion rates accelerating at sites covered in over 90% oil. In contrast, marshes with less oil impact showed no accelerated erosion and potentially recover over time.
Researchers discovered that Zika virus infects cranial neural crest cells, which form the bones of the skull, without killing them. Instead, it causes these cells to produce signaling molecules promoting new neural cell formation, potentially leading to smaller-than-average skulls and disproportionate facial features.
Researchers develop a portable biological factory platform that can produce pharmaceuticals, specialized therapies, and experimental biomolecules using freeze-dried molecular components. The technology is applied in various fields, including vaccine production and designer antibody development.
A comprehensive review of studies on alternative management strategies for low-risk acute medical conditions found that all four evaluated approaches are safe, improve patient satisfaction, and reduce healthcare costs. However, some exceptions were noted, including higher-than-anticipated return hospitalization rates for certain condit...
A team of researchers from Utah State University and other institutions found that the two symmetrical halves of nitrogenase work together to regulate electron movements. This cooperative effort allows for more efficient conversion of nitrogen into ammonia, a crucial process for food production and energy development.
A new study from Michigan State University suggests that meditation can help tame negative emotions in people of all mindfulness levels. Participants who meditated showed similar levels of 'emotion regulatory' brain activity as those with high natural mindfulness, indicating improved emotional health.
Scientists at EPFL have developed a method to position hundreds of thousands of nanoparticles with precision, orienting them within one degree and one nanometer apart. This technique sets the stage for the development of nanometric devices such as optical detection equipment and biological sensors.
A researcher at the University of Arizona has created a computer-aided surgical trainer that provides haptic guidance and augmented reality images to train surgeons in laparoscopic procedures. The device is designed to improve hand-eye coordination and reduce complications, ultimately leading to better surgical outcomes.
A study found consistent differences in antibody structure and function between latent and active TB, which could improve diagnosis and lead to more effective vaccines. The findings also suggest a potential mechanism for controlling TB infection using antibodies.