Researchers at Harvard have discovered a new phenomenon in quantum cascade laser frequency combs, enabling devices to act as integrated transmitters or receivers for efficient information encoding. This breakthrough has the potential to increase Wi-Fi capacity and pave the way for faster data transfer rates.
Researchers found that valproic acid, an antiepileptic drug, can cause birth defects in frog embryos by interfering with glutamate signaling. The study suggests that new epilepsy medications could be developed to be safer for pregnant women.
Researchers found symbolic objects in Hayonim Cave, Israel, characterized by repetitive notches on scapulae and a hyoid of gazelle, suggesting cultural identification of the Levantine Aurignacian culture. The findings provide insights into the origins and spread of this ancient culture.
Researchers found that malaria-carrying parasites, particularly Plasmodium, are more widespread due to their ability to infect multiple bird species. The study's findings suggest that geography and host evolutionary relationships play significant roles in shaping parasite diversity and distribution patterns.
Researchers have identified a therapeutic RNA molecule that corrects the genetic processing error causing familial dysautonomia by enabling human and mouse cells to produce normal levels of IKAP protein. The discovery provides proof of concept for potentially treating this rare disorder.
Researchers developed a global model of the geomagnetic field between 30,000 and 50,000 years ago, revealing that the current field does not resemble past excursions. The study suggests that future reversals or excursions cannot be predicted by analyzing present-day field structures.
A new study presents the world's first series of robot-assisted tracheobronchoplasty, a minimally invasive procedure that expands treatment options for patients with tracheobronchomalacia. The results show significant improvement in pulmonary function tests and patient satisfaction, with low morbidity and mortality rates.
Early intervention after completed clinical staging leads to increased survival rates in non-small cell lung cancer patients. Surgery within eight weeks from diagnosis significantly improves overall survival.
Scientists have discovered key steps in how bacteria eat antibiotics, transforming them into food. The findings could lead to new ways to eliminate antibiotics from land and water, slowing the spread of drug resistance. Researchers may engineer bacteria like E. coli to clean up contaminated soil and water.
A recent study found that less than 2% of pages in leading biology, chemistry, and physics textbooks discuss climate change. The research team analyzed over 15,000 combined pages from current editions of 16 undergraduate textbooks published between 2013 and 2015, concluding that there is a significant lack of emphasis on renewable ener...
Automated BI-RADS breast density measures have similar predictive ability to clinical assessments, but may be more reproducible and suitable for identifying women at high risk of interval cancer. Hospital readmissions within the first week are more likely preventable than those occurring later, suggesting a shift in accountability model.
Researchers at Rice University have discovered exceptional points in a unique material, enabling continuous tuning of light and matter coupling. This breakthrough may lead to novel quantum technologies like advanced information storage and one-dimensional lasers.
Researchers have developed a new way to introduce molecules and therapeutic genes into human cells using ultrafast compression, which can improve cell transfection efficiency. The technique involves compressing cells in microfluidic devices, causing them to take up surrounding fluid and macromolecules.
University of Rochester researchers have developed a new live equine influenza vaccine that is safe and more protective than existing vaccines. The vaccine targets the H3N8 strain currently circulating in North America and Europe, and was shown to protect horses against the virus in a small study.
Researchers found that adopting five low-risk lifestyle factors—eating a healthy diet, exercising regularly, maintaining a healthy weight, limiting alcohol consumption, and avoiding smoking—can add up to 14 years of life for women and 12 years for men. This translates to a 74% lower risk of early death compared to those who didn
Researchers found that damselfly genes strongly responded to environmental changes as they moved towards the northern edge of their range. The study suggests that the blue-tailed damselfly has a wealth of evolutionary strategies available to help it adapt to a changing climate.
Recent studies by Case Western Reserve University's Anant Madabhushi show that his diagnostic imaging lab's 'deep learning' computers can accurately diagnose heart failure and detect various cancers. The machines offer valuable tools for pathologists and radiologists, helping them become more efficient in their work.
A study of 40 healthy male participants found that those raised in urban areas without pets exhibited heightened immune activation and inflammation after psychosocial stress. This suggests a potential link between urban upbringing and increased vulnerability to stress-associated physical and mental disorders.
Researchers discovered a new resistance mechanism in Acinetobacter baumannii that blocks the critical antibiotic colistin. The mechanism involves disruption of the hns gene by an insertion sequence element, leading to increased expression of genes that boost colistin resistance.
Researchers found a 76% slowdown in nitrogen oxide emissions reduction from 2005 to 2015, contradicting EPA predictions of a 16% decrease. The discrepancy was largely due to increased industrial and off-road vehicle emissions while on-road gasoline vehicles declined.
A Norwegian university research programme has increased the proportion of doctors who pursue a PhD tenfold and those aspiring to an academic career. The programme provides a specialized track for medical students, giving them a head start as active researchers.
A dolutegravir-based regimen is likely to increase life expectancy by nearly three years and reduce new HIV infections by 23 percent in India. This could be achieved without increasing the country's HIV/AIDS budget.
New research suggests that reducing food product portion sizes can recalibrate perceptions of normal food intake, leading to decreased consumption. The study found that participants who were served smaller portions chose to eat less in future experiments.
The Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI) Board has approved $74 million in funding for nine new comparative clinical effectiveness research studies. These studies will investigate various conditions that impose significant burdens on patients, caregivers, and the healthcare system.
A new study published in PNAS found that children raised in rural environments with animals have more stress-resilient immune systems and lower risk of mental illness than pet-free city dwellers. The research supports the 'hygiene hypothesis,' which posits that overly sterile environments can breed health problems.
The Australian Mountain Ash ecosystem experienced significant declines in tree populations and animal biodiversity following logging and fire events. Prolonged periods of decline and slow recovery were also observed after disturbance events.
Researchers at Moffitt Cancer Center used mathematical modeling to show that adaptive drug treatments based on tumor responses are more effective than maximum-tolerated dose approaches. The approach can be tailored to specific tumor types, such as melanoma and breast cancer, and may lead to better patient outcomes.
A study on genetically diverse worms reveals that a small protein called FLP-18 controls the length of their backward movement, which increases the likelihood of changing direction to navigate towards food. This mechanism may help the worm explore a larger area during periods of extreme hunger.
In a study published in Animal Behaviour, researchers found that male brown widow spiders prefer to mate with older, less-fertile females who are more likely to cannibalize them after sex. This surprising preference for older females suggests that males may be making decisions based on factors other than fertility.
Scientists from GFZ and universities reconstructed past changes in Earth's magnetic field using paleomagnetic data. They found that the South Atlantic Anomaly is unlikely to be a precursor of a pole reversal, as it was followed by increased field strength and disappearance of similar anomalies in the past.
Researchers found degraded coral reefs are quieter than five years ago, with 40% fewer juvenile fishes attracted compared to healthy reefs. The loss of reef sounds could have devastating consequences for reefs, as fish play critical roles in maintaining their health.
The International Thwaites Glacier Collaboration aims to understand the likelihood, timing, and magnitude of glacier collapse. The collaboration will deploy scientists with advanced equipment to measure ice-volume or ice-mass change in the region.
Researchers identified a subset of healthier T cells, marked by CD8 and CD27 expression, that correlate with clinical responses in CLL patients. The findings suggest a new patient-selection tool for CAR T cell therapy and potential improvements through emerging cell manufacturing techniques.
Researchers have identified FoxM1 as a potential target for treating pulmonary hypertension, a severe lung disease with a 50% five-year survival rate. Deleting the FoxM1 gene in mice resulted in thinner artery walls and improved right heart function.
Research suggests a link between moderate to severe mid-life anxiety and later life dementia, with potential benefits from non-pharmacological therapies such as mindfulness and meditation. The findings support previous evidence of mental illness being associated with dementia in older age.
A new study shows that farming fish can help meet the world's future protein demands while reducing land use, with potential savings of up to 747 million hectares globally. The research highlights the efficiency of aquatic animals in converting feed to biomass for human consumption.
Researchers have created a rat model that can be used to study the buildup of amyloid plaques and vascular abnormalities in the brain, two key traits of Alzheimer's disease. The model, which uses human APP and PS1 proteins, has shown poor memory and learning in rats, similar to those observed in humans suffering from Alzheimer's.
A new study reveals that the tobacco industry successfully manipulated UNICEF's focus on tobacco control for children, reducing its emphasis on a tobacco-free life. The agency was influenced by big tobacco's lobbying efforts, leading to less stringent measures against tobacco use among youth.
Researchers at McLean Hospital found that elevated levels of certain lipids in the brain are associated with Parkinson's disease. The study suggests that lipid alterations may precede some of the disease's hallmark features and could provide an early warning sign for patients.
A new study found that intermittent bright light exposure at night can cause significant phase shifts in the body's internal clock, but not necessarily melatonin suppression. This challenges the common assumption that one can be used as a proxy measure for the other.
A recent study by University of Guam researcher Ann Marie Gawel suggests that feral pigs might be an unlikely forest ally in regenerating native plant species on the island. Pigs were found to have a positive impact on seed dispersal in limestone karst forests, whereas deer had negative effects.
Researchers found that walking the course provides significantly higher health benefits and is not associated with increased pain or inflammation. Golfing while riding a cart still offers cardiovascular benefits, but walking is the superior option.
Researchers have found that blood biopsies provide highly detailed genetic information that agrees well with bone marrow tests. This breakthrough could lead to more personalized treatment plans for patients with multiple myeloma, as the disease's progression can vary over time.
A new approach to hearing assessment has been developed and validated, focusing on whether public safety professionals can perform 'hearing-critical' job tasks in specific noise environments. The method takes into account real-world noise environments and provides an objective means of occupational hearing screening.
The Sleep Research Society has selected three leading sleep scientists to receive its 2018 awards. David F. Dinges, Chiara Cirelli, and Sharon A. Keenan will be honored for their groundbreaking contributions to the field of sleep and circadian science.
Introduced species are deliberately excluded from biodiversity reports, distorting international nature reports and the public's view of nature. The study recommends including their positive contributions to accurately track the state of biodiversity and its evolution.
The UK loses 86 million workdays to migraine annually, costing the economy £8.8 billion. The condition affects over 23% of adults with nearly 200,000 attacks daily.
A new technique enhances power output of single-mode lasers, enabling terahertz spectroscopy applications. The technique introduces a hybrid second- and fourth-order Bragg grating in the laser's optical cavity.
A new study led by St. Michael's Hospital maps the potential risk of yellow fever virus spread to cities around the world, analyzing travel patterns and environmental conditions. The research highlights the need for countries to reexamine their policies to prevent yellow fever virus importation, protect travelers, and prevent exportation.
The Gulf of Oman has been found to have a vast and growing oxygen minimum zone, with an area larger than Scotland having almost no oxygen left. Climate change and pollution are exacerbating the issue, threatening marine life and human reliance on the oceans.
A North Carolina State University study found that two fish species, western blacknose dace and creek chub, evolved different body shapes in response to urbanization. The study showed that the dace became more streamlined, while the chub developed deeper bodies in urban areas. Lab experiments confirmed that genetic differences played a...
Researchers at Boston University School of Medicine identified ubiquitin-fusion degradation 1 (UFD1) as a key protein in aggressive T-cell leukemia. Reducing UFD1 levels by 50% inhibited leukemia development without impacting healthy tissues.
Researchers discovered that GLP-1 receptor agonists can selectively reduce cocaine-seeking without causing nausea. The study used FDA-approved medications for diabetes and obesity treatment, such as Exendin-4, to treat cocaine addiction. Low doses of the medication reduced cocaine-seeking behaviors in rats.
Brazilian researchers use human tissue samples from victims of the Hiroshima bombing to measure radiation dose absorbed by bones. The study confirms the feasibility of this method and opens up possibilities for future research, clarifying details of the nuclear attack.
A new study developed a novel risk tool to predict 30-day readmission rates in patients undergoing transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR). The tool calculates a score based on several variables, including chronic kidney disease, anemia, and discharge disposition, with a c-statistic of 0.63.
A contemporary real-world analysis of culprit vessel-only intervention (CVI) versus multivessel intervention (MVI) in patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) and cardiogenic shock (CS) found lower mortality rates for CVI. The study, presented at the Society for Cardiovascular Angiography and Interventions 2018 Scientific Sessio...
A Kyoto University researcher has captured the first Yanbaru whiskered bat in Okinawa since its discovery in 1996. The critically endangered species was found to have a range-restricted habitat within the Yanbaru Forest, highlighting the need for conservation efforts.
Researchers found that positive family climate and effective parenting strategies during adolescence can lead to better problem-solving skills and less-violent romantic relationships as young adults. Positive engagement with parents is also associated with feelings of love and connection in young adult relationships.
Argonne researchers Lawrence Harding, Albert Wagner, Stephen Klippenstein, and James Miller have been inducted as fellows of The Combustion Institute. Their pioneering work has led to significant advances in understanding the chemistry of combustion. The recognition highlights the importance of U.S. Department of Energy Basic Energy Sc...
A significant update to the PROGRESS-CTO International Registry reveals successful outcomes of Chronic Total Occlusion Percutaneous Intervention (CTO PCI) for over 3,000 patients. The study found high success rates with acceptable complications, supporting its use in experienced centers.