Researchers at Harvard Medical School have identified a mechanism that regulates the imprinting of multiple genes, including those critical to placental growth during early embryonic development in mice. The study reveals that histone modification is necessary for imprinting certain genes, while DNA methylation plays no role.
Researchers have discovered that the Sahara's dust supply fluctuated in millennial-scale phases during the decline of the African Humid Period. The study suggests that Saharan dust phases may reflect aridity at a trans-Saharan scale, with implications for vegetation cover and wildlife.
Researchers found that geckos don't always have enough adhesive ability to save themselves, especially when encountering unexpected falls. The study's results could lead to a better understanding of how geckos stick to surfaces and potentially inspire new technologies.
The study found that humans have generated 8.3 billion metric tons of plastics since the 1950s, with most becoming waste and accumulating in landfills or the natural environment. The researchers estimate that if current trends continue, 12 billion metric tons of plastic waste will be in landfills or the natural environment by 2050.
The University of Delaware research team, led by Jennifer Biddle, will investigate how environmental factors affect gene expression in microbes. They aim to develop a new method for detecting epigenetic signals, which could have wide-ranging impact on human health and renewable energy.
A recent Penn State study analyzed the fate of seven emerging contaminants in wastewater treatment plants and groundwater wells. The results showed that soil generally acts as an effective biogeochemical filter, removing most contaminants except during snowmelt events.
Researchers have developed a new class of NanoVelcro microchips that can capture and analyze rare circulating fetal cells in a mother's blood. This technology has the potential to noninvasively diagnose prenatal conditions, reducing the risk of miscarriage and harm to the fetus.
Physical activity has strong anti-inflammatory properties, playing a crucial role in chronic diseases like type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease. Exercise stimulates cytokines IL-6 and IL-10, inhibiting TNF-α and limiting IL-1β signalling to combat inflammation.
A new CU Boulder study reveals that a protein called CPR-4 is responsible for the radiation-induced bystander effect, which can damage healthy cells. Researchers hope to develop a medication to inhibit this effect, allowing doctors to minimize side effects and enhance cancer cell killing.
Researchers have developed a blood test that can detect amyloid beta plaques in the brain, a key characteristic of Alzheimer's disease. The test measures levels of three different amyloid subtypes and has been shown to be highly accurate in identifying individuals with altered levels of amyloid in their brains.
A Kent State University researcher examines vaccine rejection and hesitancy, highlighting the importance of accurate information and promoting vaccination. Her study aims to debunk myths and provide scientifically-based arguments to encourage people to immunize themselves and their children.
A recent study found that 40% of new secondary science teachers teach mostly or entirely out of field, with 64% having at least one out-of-field course in their first five years. This can lead to constrained teaching and rote memorization rather than in-depth learning
The team created a polarizing beamsplitter that splits light into vertically and horizontally polarized states, enabling various applications in imaging systems, communications networks, and future technologies. This new technique has advantages over traditional methods, including being cheaper, more robust, and versatile.
A team of Penn State food scientists found that people generally cannot tell the difference between fat levels in ice creams within a certain range. The study challenges some ice cream marketing that suggests high-fat ice cream is higher quality and better tasting.
Researchers found that informal networks linking volunteers with authorities improved monitoring, decision-making, communication systems, and evacuations in Tungurahua volcano. The network has helped minimize forced evacuations and enabled better trust between public and experts.
A new study by Florida State University researchers found that temperature-related tweets increase on Twitter when temperatures rise. Government officials use the platform to disseminate information about cooling centers and energy assistance, with agencies in several states actively using Twitter for this purpose.
A study found that only about 7% of older adults who smoked used prescription smoking cessation medications within 90 days after a heart attack. Factors associated with early use included being younger and living in areas with higher high school graduate rates.
The GW Cancer Center received a $100,000 grant from the Avon Foundation to fund a patient navigator and Spanish-speaking support group for breast cancer patients in the D.C. area. The program will provide resources to help 300 breast cancer patients overcome barriers in the healthcare system.
A new study reveals that domesticated dogs and humans share a common genetic basis for social behavior, with unique genetic insertions associated with human-directed social behaviors in dogs. This finding challenges the conventional view of dog domestication and highlights the evolutionary conservation of sociability across species.
Researchers at the University of British Columbia have found that changing where an enzyme cuts a protein precursor can reduce amyloid beta plaque buildup, a key factor in Alzheimer's disease. By guiding the enzyme to a different point, the researchers may be able to achieve the same goal with less collateral damage.
A team of researchers has created a personalized, 3D-printed 'earable' sensor that monitors core body temperature in real time. The device, integrated with data processing circuits and wireless module, detects ear temperature using infrared sensors.
Researchers investigate how genetic genes IRF6 and SPRY4 interact during fetal development to form the palate. Studies reveal that these two genes interact to reduce adhesion of the oral surface to the tongue, leading to cleft palate formation. The study aims to better understand this interaction to address defects in palate creation.
A new saliva test developed by Johns Hopkins researchers matches the performance of a widely used blood test for diagnosing hepatitis E virus infection. The test has the potential to ease and speed up research into the disease, which affects an estimated 20 million people worldwide each year.
Since 1950s, over 9.1 billion tons of plastic have been manufactured, with the majority ending up in landfills or natural settings. Recycling plastic merely delays disposal unless it reduces new production, while incineration can have negative environmental and health effects.
Harvard scientists have identified two brain networks that lie side-by-side in the brain and may play key roles in planning, remembering and imagination. These networks are intertwined, with one connected to memory structures while the other isn't, suggesting they originated from similar processes during brain development and evolution.
Researchers at NYU conclude that memory is fundamentally structured in the time domain, with a 'temporal hierarchy' of time windows altering brain state. This theory explains how short-term memories can transform into long-term ones.
Researchers found MRSA's resistance gene in S. aureus isolates dating back to the mid-1940s, 14 years before methicillin's introduction. The study highlights the importance of surveillance and genome sequencing to combat antibiotic resistance.
A massive simulation of the HIV capsid has revealed new details about how it interacts with its environment, including oscillations that transmit information between different parts. The study also found that ions flow in and out of the capsid pores, potentially creating vulnerabilities for new drug development.
Researchers have found and dated artifacts in northern Australia indicating human arrival around 65,000 years ago. This new date calls into question the argument that humans caused the extinction of unique megafauna, suggesting a coexistence view of early humans and wildlife.
Tropical Storm Greg is one of three cyclones in the Eastern Pacific, located near 14.3 degrees north latitude and 111.0 degrees west longitude, about 550 miles southwest of Manzanillo, Mexico. As of July 19, its maximum sustained winds were near 45 mph with higher gusts, and it's forecast to gradually strengthen over the next 48 hours.
Researchers at McGill University have shown that practice can alter the way the brain uses sensory information, including visual perception. By temporarily deactivating a critical brain region, subjects who practiced with moving lines were able to perceive motion despite the region's inactivation.
Dr. Douglas W. Brown is being inducted into the American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine's (AOSSM) Hall of Fame for his groundbreaking work in sports medicine, spanning over four decades. He has served as a team physician for numerous national teams and has been an active member of AOSSM since 1981.
NASA's Suomi NPP and GPM satellites observed Tropical Storm Don developing in the North Atlantic, producing moderate to heavy rainfall rates of over 4.4 inches before weakening into a remnant low pressure area.
Researchers found that people with better heart health scores had a higher average brain volume as a percentage of their total head size in middle age. A stronger association was also seen between current smoking and smaller brain volume.
The unfolded protein response (UPR) is an adaptive biochemical process linked to cell homeostasis, crucial for maintaining normal physiological function. Prolonged ER stress can push the UPR past beneficial functions, contributing to various disease states, making it a global target for novel therapeutic intervention.
A research team at KAIST developed diagnostic sensors using protein-encapsulated nanocatalysts to analyze human exhaled breath and diagnose diseases. The sensors achieved high sensitivity and selectivity, detecting biomarker gases related to diseases with improved performance compared to conventional platinum-based catalysts.
A comprehensive genomic analysis of over 500 medulloblastoma patients revealed new mutations and genetic missteps, including two suspected oncogenes. The discoveries will aid efforts to develop precision medicines with increased survival rates and reduced side effects.
Interventions targeting children reduced sugary drink intake by around 30%, while those for teenagers saw a decrease of nearly 10%. However, adults showed almost no change. The study highlights the need for comprehensive approaches to address this issue, including taxation and environmental changes.
Researchers developed a system to deliver growth factors to stem cells, enabling their survival and differentiation into new blood vessels. This approach successfully restored blood supply and rescued muscle tissue in mouse models of ischemia.
A new global analysis shows that species most at risk live in areas just beginning to see the impacts of human activities. Intact forest landscapes deserve higher priority for conservation dollars than heavily impacted areas, according to researchers.
A new study suggests that a massive asteroid impact early in Mars' history could explain the planet's unique geological features. The research proposes that an asteroid at least 1,200 kilometers across crashed into Mars, depositing rare metals and creating the planet's hemispheres.
Researchers found that obese people tend to ignore future meal timings when selecting portion sizes, unlike lean individuals who generally do. This novel finding highlights the need for targeted interventions to promote future thinking in meal planning and may explain why being overweight is associated with irregular meal timings.
A new hearing test, developed by researchers at the University of Southampton, has been implemented to assess auditory fitness-for-duty among military personnel. The test, a speech-in-noise test, takes into account real-world scenarios and challenges faced by soldiers, providing a more accurate measure of their hearing abilities.
Cox was recognized for his 1972 paper on the proportional hazards model, widely used in survival data analysis. The model has been applied to various fields, leading to life-changing breakthroughs and societal impact.
Research identified PTPRZ as a crucial enzyme for glioblastoma's maintenance and tumorigenicity. Pharmacological inhibition of PTPRZ shows promise in treating malignant gliomas.
The study reveals that even spacing of cell clumps is set by the gentle tug of war among cells as an organism grows, triggering genes that produce follicles and feathers. This discovery could lead to creating artificial skin with hair follicles and sweat pores for grafts.
A new book by UTA researcher Shima Hamidi shows that life expectancy, economic mobility, transportation choices, and personal health and safety all improve in less sprawling areas. People in compact, connected counties tend to have lower risks of obesity, high blood pressure, and diabetes.
Researchers found variants of the FOXO3 gene play a role in aging into the early to mid-90s but do not affect exceptional longevity beyond that. Centenarians appear to benefit from combinations of longevity-enabling genes that protect against aging and age-related diseases.
A study published in JAMA found that weight gain from age 18 to 55 is associated with a higher risk of type 2 diabetes, hypertension, cardiovascular disease, and death. Weight gain as little as 11 pounds during this period can lead to increased risks of major chronic diseases.
Researchers used a new, non-destructive technology to access medieval texts hidden inside ancient bookbindings. By fusing visible hyperspectral and X-ray fluorescence imaging, they discovered sixth-century Roman Law code written in marginal comments.
Researchers at University of Science and Technology of China have developed a new type of synthetic antiferromagnet with correlated oxide multilayers, overcoming the 'dead layer' effect that hindered previous progress. The team achieved layer-resolved magnetic switching in La2/3Ca1/3MnO3/CaRu1/2Ti1/2O3/NdGaO3 multilayers.
The project aims to strengthen resilience in under-resourced communities by testing two approaches: providing technical resources or supporting community planning. The research will also investigate mobile phone-based applications to enhance skills to cope with stress and develop policy recommendations.
Patients undergoing gastric bypass surgery experience altered sweet taste preferences, with RYGB producing more pronounced effects than VSG. This phenomenon may help clinicians predict patient responses to different surgeries and inform treatment approaches for obesity.
A Wayne State University researcher has received a $1.9 million grant from the National Institutes of Health to study the role of AMP-activated protein kinase in regulating innate responses to bacterial endophthalmitis. The study aims to identify novel pathways and new means to treat blinding ocular infections.
A US Department of Agriculture-funded study found that affordable health insurance is a major concern for American farmers, affecting their business risk and ability to run a successful enterprise. The study also highlights the impact of health-related costs on farm succession issues and access to land for young farmers.
A large-scale trial found that goal-oriented therapy significantly improves people's ability to engage in important daily tasks and maintain independence. The therapy, which involves setting and achieving individual goals, shows promising results for supporting individuals with early-stage dementia to live fulfilling lives.
A global study has identified the evolutionary steps leading to the spread of the wheat blast fungus, a pathogen causing significant yield losses in Asia and South America. The fungus emerged through host jumps from a weed pathogen and its distribution was initially restricted to South America before re-emerging on the Eurasian continent.
A study published in JAMA found that high-dose vitamin D administration among children aged 1-5 did not reduce wintertime upper respiratory tract infections. The daily supplementation of 2000 IU/d or 400 IU/d had no significant effect on the number or duration of infections.
A new integrated Earth System Model (iESM) reduces uncertainties in future climate predictions by coupling physical, biological processes with human activities. The iESM is being used to explore interactions among the physical climate system, biological components of the Earth system, and human systems.
Scientists have developed a new method for detecting extremely small amounts of DNA using associating and dissociating nanodimer analysis (ADNA). The method can differentiate true signals from noise and detect deviations of individual bases, with a detection limit of about 46 DNA copies.