The University of Texas at San Antonio has received a nearly $800,000 grant from the US Department of Commerce's National Institute of Standards and Technology to develop new computer simulation models for characterizing the impact of severe earthquake conditions on reinforced concrete structures. These tools will provide engineers wit...
For the first time, astronomers have measured how a galaxy's spin affects its shape, finding that faster-spinning galaxies are flatter and spiral galaxies with faster spins have more circular disks. The study used a new instrument, SAMI, to analyze data from 845 galaxies.
A new study finds climate change will reduce coffee-growing areas in Latin America by up to 88% by 2050, mainly due to declining bee populations. However, the research also identifies regions where bee diversity is likely to increase, potentially boosting coffee productivity.
Researchers at Osaka University have identified distinct factors regulating crossover-type recombination at yeast centromeres and non-centromeres. The study suggests that centromeres are protected from chromosomal rearrangements due to specific proteins, ensuring DNA fidelity.
Research in the UK found that people with disabilities face significant hurdles accessing healthcare services, with disabled women being disproportionately disadvantaged. Long waiting lists and cost of treatment were major obstacles, affecting over one-fourth of those with severe disabilities.
Researchers found significant differences in bacterial genera between MS patients and healthy controls, with Acinetobacter and Akkermansia being more abundant in patients. Exposure to extracts from these bacteria increased proinflammatory T cell differentiation and inhibited regulatory T cell differentiation.
Researchers evaluate innovative treatments for common emotional problems after TBI, including videoconferencing technology and web-based interventions. Participants show significant improvements in emotional regulation, positive emotions, and problem-solving skills.
Researchers at KAIST have developed a novel fabrication technology to produce superomniphobic surfaces that can repel liquids, including water and oil. The new approach uses localized photofluidization of azobenzene molecule-containing polymers, resulting in a superior superomniphobic property.
A new study in Global Food Security found that livestock consume mostly foods unfit for human consumption, making their impact on the human food supply smaller than previously thought. The research also showed that certain production systems contribute directly to global food security by producing highly valuable nutrients.
Scientists at Johns Hopkins Kimmel Cancer Center found that cigarette smoke triggers epigenetic changes in human airway cells, sensitizing them to genetic mutations. These changes precede and silence key tumor suppressor genes, leading to increased KRAS signaling and cancer development.
A team of Caltech engineers has developed the world's smallest optical quantum memory chip, capable of storing information in individual photons. The device stores data more efficiently and securely than traditional computer memory, with 97% accuracy rate.
Chronic cocaine users exhibit impaired learning and memory in the ventromedial prefrontal cortex, making it hard for them to form new associations and quit using the drug. This finding highlights potential limitations of extinction-based therapy in treating addiction.
New research reveals OPEC's impact on global oil production, driving up costs by $160 billion. This has led to the development of complex, expensive technologies, such as fracking, outside OPEC countries.
Researchers have identified a protein called glypican-2 as a promising target for immunotherapy in treating high-risk childhood cancers. The protein is necessary for tumor growth and is overexpressed on cancer cells, making it an attractive target for therapies that harness the immune system.
Future warming scenarios predict a 73-88% reduction in areas suitable for growing coffee by 2050. Bee diversity may decline by 8-18% in future coffee-growing regions, but some species will still be present in 46-59% of these areas.
A significant solar flare occurred on September 10, 2017, peaking at 12:06 p.m. EDT, causing disturbances in the atmosphere where GPS and communications signals travel. The X8.2-class flare is part of a series of flares from Active Region 2673, which was identified on August 29.
Researchers found that using medical specialists in intensive care improved patient outcomes, reducing hospital stays by two days and saving over $4 million a year. The collaborative staffing model between cardiologists and intensivists showed promising results, warranting further study.
A recent UC Davis study found that early adolescents with cross-ethnic friendships had significantly higher GPAs and teacher expectations. Students who interacted with peers from other ethnicities experienced an average grade point increase of one-third of a point, corresponding to a B-plus to A-minus average.
Research by Jamie Whitehouse suggests that stress behaviours like scratching can be a sign of social stress, reducing the likelihood of conflict and promoting transparency. In rhesus macaques, stress scratching lowered aggression rates, especially among non-friends.
Researchers discovered that caspase-8 triggers programmed cell death in diseased liver cells, leading to genetic instability and tumor development. This mechanism is remarkably universal across various liver diseases.
A new roadmap is being published by Purdue University's Advanced Lyophilization Technology Hub to identify improvements needed in the lyophilization process. The road map will focus on three key areas: products, processes, and equipment, with the goal of increasing efficiency and reducing costs.
Researchers at The University of Queensland found that strategic delays can improve conservation gains by leveraging investments, capacity building, and monitoring. This approach allows limited resources to protect more species and achieve better outcomes in less time.
Scientists have identified where laminin 511 interacts with integrins, crucial adhesion molecules that determine cell function and shape. The discovery reveals the gamma chain directly interacts with integrins, stabilizing the laminin-integrin bond.
Researchers from the University of Vienna have challenged a 150-year-old hypothesis on the evolutionary origin of the gut by studying sea anemones. Contrary to previous beliefs, digestive enzyme- and insulin-producing gland cells do not develop from endoderm but from the ectodermal part of the mouth in sea anemones.
Tropical Storm Talim formed on Sept. 8 and strengthened into a tropical storm by Sept. 9, moving west-northwest at 10 knots. The Joint Typhoon Warning Center predicts it will make landfall in Taiwan on Sept. 13.
A study found that businesses that respond to online reviews receive higher ratings and more informative reviews. Responding to reviews also discourages negative comments but may lead to longer, more detailed negative feedback.
A new site in Australia has revealed up to 15 gloomy octopuses communicating and interacting with each other, challenging the idea that octopuses are solitary creatures. The discovery supports the notion that octopuses can congregate and socialize under certain conditions.
Scientists have identified a previously undetected motion in the human cell nucleus, which decreases over time during the cell cycle and marks the first physical feature to systematically change with the cell cycle. This internal clock-like mechanism could contribute to understanding nuclear envelope function in health and disease.
Researchers found that chronic cigarette smoke exposure leads to epigenetic changes in lung cells, silencing protective genes and priming them for cancer. These changes can be reversed by quitting smoking, suggesting a potential strategy for reducing lung cancer risk.
A new study found that hormone replacement therapy (HRT) can slow the decline in lung function in middle-aged women. Women who took long-term HRT performed better in lung function tests than those who never took HRT, losing an average of 46 ml less of lung volume over 20 years.
A Rice University and Texas A&M-Galveston study found that FEMA's 100-year flood plain maps failed to capture 75 percent of flood damages from five serious floods. The research suggests that innovative computational tools can build more predictive maps, improving flood risk assessments.
Researchers discovered N-glycolyl groups in ancient fossils, suggesting a link between glycans and the evolutionary history of Homo genus in Africa. The study also found degradation of sialic acid led to selective incorporation into chondroitin sulfate in human tissues.
A study by UNC researchers found that the cost of a generic oral chemotherapy treatment was $2,328 last year, which is 36% lower than the projected branded drug price in 2016. However, the savings are modest compared to other generic drugs, and brand-name drug prices have increased over time.
Przewalski's horses have shifted their diet from desert shrubs and leaves in winter to herbaceous plants at all seasons, unlike their ancestors in the past. This change occurred after humans expelled them from steppe communities and forced them into near-desert habitats.
A $3.3 million grant will fund a study to manage crapemyrtle bark scale, a new, devastating exotic pest impacting the industry's $66 million worth of crapemyrtle sales. The study aims to develop effective control methods and improve understanding of consumer preferences.
Researchers have discovered a new type of glycan that survives in 4 million-year-old animal fossils from Kenya. This breakthrough could reveal human origins and diet, including the consumption of red meat. Gc-CS detection may classify ancient hominin fossils into two groups.
A study published in Psychological Science found that people are more likely to cooperate when others reciprocate, rather than conforming to group norms. The researchers conducted three online experiments and found that participants were more cooperative when they had a cooperative partner and an uncooperative group.
A recent study found that a high-priced drug called Acthar drove up Medicare expenditures by over $1 billion, despite lacking evidence of greater efficacy. The majority of spending was attributed to a small group of frequent prescribers, who may be subject to conflicts of interest from aggressive marketing.
A 52-million-year-old ankle fossil reveals that early primates, such as Donrussellia provincialis, were agile and nimble, able to bound between trunks and branches. This challenges the long-held notion that these ancestors were slow and deliberate climbers.
A systematic review of 35 studies found that over 26% of papers identified as systematic reviews or meta-analyses contained spin, while up to 84% of non-randomised trials did. Researchers highlight the need for better tools to identify and address 'spin' in scientific literature.
Researchers at Imperial College London have created a filter that can switch between reflecting and transmitting light by fine-tuning the distance between nanoparticles in a single layer. This development could lead to the creation of special materials with real-time tunable optical properties.
A study by the University of Chicago finds that air pollution in Northern China reduces life expectancy by 3.1 years, with every 10 micrograms per cubic meter increase reducing it by 0.6 years.
Researchers at Georgia Institute of Technology propose a new way to gather and share information during natural disasters that does not rely on the internet. Using edge computing, mobile phones, routers, and other hardware can create a network, enabling emergency managers and first responders to share and act on information gathered fr...
Research finds that women with asthma are more likely to receive fertility treatment, suggesting improved asthma control may enhance pregnancy. The study's findings do not prove a causal link but encourage future investigations into the relationship between asthma and fertility.
International panel recommends older alternative medications to reduce risk of premature birth and neonatal death, supporting patient-centered decision-making. The new guidelines take a public health perspective into account, acknowledging operational challenges in low-resource settings.
A team of scientists discovered half-a-billion-year-old fossils in Brazil that reveal the existence of complex animals with muscle control approximately 550 million years ago. These findings challenge current fossil records and provide new insights into animal evolution.
Researchers found that programs aimed at reducing elective early-term births led to healthier deliveries for mothers and their babies, with higher birth weights and lower rates of complications. The campaigns effectively reduced the number of early-term elective inductions and C-sections in the US.
Dr. Philip Perconti, ARL Director, emphasizes the importance of innovation in basic research, highlighting recent successes in micro-autonomous systems and technology. He also discusses the Laboratory's Open Campus initiative, a collaborative framework that fosters mutual reliance and interdependent research.
A new study found extensive loss of branching corals and changes in coral community structure on the Palm Islands over the past century. The area's hard coral cover is declining, with recovery severely lagging behind predictions.
A systematic review of 35 academic studies found that over 26% of systematic reviews and meta-analyses contained spin, with up to 84% in non-randomized trials. The most common strategies for spinning results included selective reporting and attributing causality when it was not possible.
A new study reveals substantial disparities in health status, healthcare quality, and access to care for individuals with developmental disabilities. The research found that children and older adults with developmental disabilities experience the greatest disparities in unmet healthcare needs.
A Massachusetts law restricting ORV use to 14-year-olds led to significant reductions in emergency department visits and hospital admissions. The study found ORV-related ED visits dropped 50% among children aged 10-13, while hospitalizations decreased by 41% for all children under 17.
The hospital will use the funding to further engage stakeholders and conduct patient-centered comparative effectiveness research. The long-term goal is to design culturally-tailored interventions that will advance the health of Hispanic children.
The new Canadian guideline recommends one-time ultrasonography screening for abdominal aortic aneurysms in men aged 65-80, while not screening women or older men. The guideline is based on evidence from randomized controlled trials and aims to reduce mortality, rupture, and emergency procedures.
Researchers at MIT have found a new way to control the adhesion of freezing droplets on surfaces by manipulating their thermal properties. This discovery could lead to improved coatings in industries such as 3-D printing and turbine blade manufacturing.
Researchers found that racially segregated areas had higher mortality rates in both urban and rural areas, but blacks sometimes lived longer in segregated areas. This may be due to less exposure to deadly infectious diseases before antibiotics were widely available.
A modeling study reveals a shift in plant leaf traits, leading to more efficient water use by plants. The carbon isotopic ratio of atmospheric CO2 decreases slower than predicted, indicating this adaptation.
Scientists at UCLA have initiated a phase 1 clinical trial using genetically engineered blood-forming stem cells to produce cancer-fighting white blood cells called T cells. The trial aims to provide both short and long-term immune response to cancer, targeting the NY-ESO-1 tumor marker.
A large study found that metabolically healthy obese individuals have a higher risk of coronary heart disease, cerebrovascular disease, and heart failure compared to normal weight individuals with no metabolic abnormalities. Underweight individuals also face increased risks for certain cardiovascular diseases.
NASA analyzed Hurricane Jose's cloud-filled eye using satellite imagery, revealing strong thunderstorms around the center and bands northeast and southeast of the storm. The satellite data showed that the eye feature persists despite being obscured in conventional imagery.