Researchers made progress in understanding protein conformation and accumulation in familial ALS, a devastating neurodegenerative disorder affecting 1-3 individuals per 100,000. The study sheds light on the interaction between normal and mutant Sod1 proteins, revealing misfolding as a central problem in ALS.
The University of Illinois Chicago has received a $300,000 grant to develop a screening process for prescribing opioids and managing opioid use disorders in cancer patients. More than 70% of cancer patients who receive radiation treatment use opiates, with higher rates seen in those receiving chemotherapy or having head and neck cancer.
Researchers used clumped isotope geochemistry to analyze fossilized clam shells and reconstruct ancient cooking techniques. The study found that the majority of clams were heated to temperatures greater than 100°C, but not greater than 200°C.
Ice baths are ineffective for long-term adaptation to training, decreasing protein generation in muscles. Researchers suggest alternative strategies for athletes seeking muscle repair or growth.
Researchers have identified a novel protein involved in the anammox process, which converts ammonium and nitric oxide to hydrazine. This protein has a unique four-amino-acid structure that was overlooked in previous studies.
New research reveals how Antarctic penguins adapted to a century of human impacts, including whaling and climate change. Gentoo penguins thrive on fish and squid, while chinstrap penguins struggle with declining krill populations.
A study by Rice ecologists found that termites lose their dominance in hunted areas of an African forest, with a 170-fold decrease in abundance. Termites play crucial roles as ecosystem engineers and food sources for other organisms, highlighting the cascading impacts of megafauna loss.
Imperial College London scientists have developed a new type of membrane that can improve water purification and battery energy storage efforts. The new approach uses low-cost plastic membranes with many tiny hydrophilic pores, making them more selective and efficient than current technology.
Researchers at the University of Warwick have developed a novel bednet design with a barrier that can significantly improve its performance and reduce insecticide use. The barrier design has been shown to be 100% effective in protecting against malaria-transmitting mosquitoes, restoring the efficiency of bednets in Africa.
The Wellcome Trust has established a translational partnership with Charité and the Berlin Institute of Health (BIH) to maximize translational medicine's benefits for patients and society. The partnership aims to raise biomedical research quality, improve regulatory understanding, and establish incentives for translational research.
Carpentry Compiler is a digital tool that allows users to design and fabricate woodworking projects. The tool optimizes fabrication instructions based on materials and equipment available, allowing for tradeoffs in cost, precision, and time.
A review of 131 studies covering 12,000 people identified two brain networks that appear to play an important role in increasing suicide risk. These networks involve the medial and lateral ventral prefrontal cortex and the dorsal prefrontal cortex and inferior frontal gyrus system.
A new study from Aston University reveals that over 9 in 10 make-up products are contaminated with potentially life-threatening superbugs like E.coli and Staphylococci. Beauty blender products, particularly, are found to have high levels of harmful bacteria, highlighting the need for consumers to wash them regularly.
Researchers found no link between e-cigarette vapor and pneumonia in mouse models, contrary to earlier concerns about vaping's health risks. However, e-cigarette vapor did alter gene expression of pneumococcus bacteria, which may impact immune response.
A new study suggests that retelling their story through photography can significantly increase self-esteem and self-efficacy in young cancer survivors. The Framed Portrait Experience intervention integrates therapeutic photography and re-enactment therapy to empower participants to express emotions connected to their illness.
Researchers have uncovered the near atomic-level structure of a calcium homeostasis modulator, a protein crucial in processing taste stimuli and mitigating brain cell toxicity. This discovery may lead to novel medications for CALHM-related disorders, including Alzheimer's disease and stroke.
Recent research suggests that gender dysphoria may be caused by altered activity in the distress, social behavior, and body-ownership networks. This new theory challenges the existing understanding of the condition.
Researchers at MIT have developed a model called ADEPT that demonstrates an understanding of basic intuitive physics. The model observes objects moving in scenes and makes predictions based on their underlying physics, registering levels of surprise when they deviate from expectations.
Researchers have discovered how the sorghum plant exercises exquisite control over its genome to survive harsh conditions. The study reveals that the plant modulates the expression of tens of thousands of genes in response to drought stress, with changes occurring within a week of water scarcity.
Researchers at Harvard Medical School have launched a project to develop preclinical drug candidates that selectively block nociceptor activity, offering an alternative to opioid-based medications. The STOP PAIN consortium combines experimental and AI-driven approaches to address the critical public health need for new pain treatments.
Researchers found that monkeys in large social groups don't call out to specific kin or friends when threatened, but rather broadcast the location of the threat to the general public. This allows individuals to minimize their risk while still providing warning to others in the group.
Sweet potatoes use a unique terpene compound called DMNT to trigger a defense response in neighboring plants. This single-odor warning system protects the plant from herbivores and reduces the need for pesticides.
The German Research Foundation funds a joint Collaborative Research Center between Freie Universität Berlin and Münster University to investigate the formation of terrestrial planets. The center aims to ascertain conditions necessary for life-sustaining planets like Earth and develop a comprehensive model by 2023.
A recent study highlights a 'worrying' increase in misuse of gabapentin and baclofen medications in the US, coinciding with a decline in opioid prescriptions. The analysis found significant rises in intentional suspected suicide attempts and hospital admissions related to these non-opioid medications.
A team led by Queen's University Belfast scientist Dr. David Jess discovered that the Sun's magnetic waves strengthen and grow due to the formation of an 'acoustic resonator', where temperature changes create boundaries that trap the waves, allowing them to intensify.
Researchers found that small forest remnants on farmland can store more carbon in the topsoil layer and host fewer ticks than larger forests. These tiny woodlands also provide benefits for roe deer populations and offer a lower risk of contracting tick-borne diseases.
Researchers at the University of Pittsburgh are using advanced MRI technology to study the connection between small vessel disease and Alzheimer's disease, aiming to identify new prevention and treatment targets. The team will visualize cerebrospinal fluid flow in real-time, shedding light on pathways linking SVD and CSF clearance.
Researchers found that dichloroacetate treatment lowered lactate production and stopped abnormal cell growth in women with endometriosis. The study suggests a new non-hormonal treatment option for the condition, which affects millions of women worldwide.
Researchers reestimated China's inland waterbodies using satellite images from 1984-2015, finding a 0.2-1.5 times increase in surface area and 0.3-1.5 times higher numbers of larger waterbodies than previous estimates.
Researchers at Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering developed an AAV-based gene therapy that targets leaky lung cells by overexpressing the CD98hc protein. This approach shows great promise in reducing vascular leakage and improving lung function, offering a new hope for treating pulmonary edema.
A nationwide cohort study in Korea found that frequent tooth brushing reduced the risk of atrial fibrillation and heart failure by 10% and 12%, respectively. The study suggests a potential mechanism: reducing bacteria in the subgingival biofilm, which can prevent translocation to the bloodstream.
Researchers at Trinity College Dublin developed a new spatial index to measure the connections between poverty and poor accessibility in Brazil. The mapping tool identifies areas where people face extreme difficulties in accessing healthcare, with 1 in 5 people traveling over 10km by non-motorized transport to reach a facility.
A meta-analysis of 44 clinical trials found that patient-reported outcomes are significantly associated with overall survival, confirming their importance as prognostic factors. This study aims to improve patient care by providing clinicians with valuable insights into cancer patients' needs and concerns.
Researchers use drones to observe fracture formation on Greenland Ice Sheet, finding that meltwater causes formation of new fractures and expansion of dormant ones. The study shows how these chain reactions can trigger catastrophic lake drainages, with significant effects on the ice sheet's instability.
A study published in Neuropsychopharmacology found that targeting cell populations in the nucleus accumbens can prevent addiction relapse. Researchers used chemogenetic receptors to control activity in this brain region, successfully reducing relapse behavior in high-risk rats.
Scientists have found a way to pair silicon with organic molecules to transfer energy between them, improving efficiency in converting light into electricity. This breakthrough has implications for information storage, solar energy conversion and medical imaging applications.
Researchers at Duke University Medical Center developed a new technique to visualize how pre-cancerous stem cells spread throughout the colon, illuminating key differences in their growth patterns. The study found that newborns are more sensitive to mutations, leading to rapid field cancerization and increased cancer risk.
Teams from Cerro Tololo and Kitt Peak Observatories imaged Mercury's transit with different telescopes and cameras. The goal is to measure the parallax shift caused by Mercury's apparent position on the Sun to calculate the distance to the Sun.
Researchers at the University of Rochester have directly demonstrated how laser beams modify plasma conditions, affecting energy transfer in fusion experiments. This breakthrough validates a longstanding theory and improves predictive capability for integrated implosion simulations.
New research published in PNAS finds the missing link between soft surface adhesion and the roughness of the hard surface it touches. The study reveals that small-scale roughness can create more surface area for soft materials to grip, explaining predicted adhesion behavior.
Researchers analyzed bushmeat samples from Tanzania's Serengeti National Park and found 27 different groups of bacteria, including those causing anthrax, brucellosis, and Q fever. The team identified a high prevalence of Clostridial species, which cause diseases like botulism and tetanus.
Researchers have successfully controlled the optical properties of semiconductors using acoustic waves at room temperature. This breakthrough enables the dynamical manipulation of excitonic properties at high speed, opening up new avenues for applications such as acousto-optic devices and sensor technology.
Researchers propose scaling up international initiatives to pool human and computational resources, accelerating climate modeling advancements. This approach aims to better understand regional climate systems, ultimately informing effective climate change mitigation strategies.
The TB TRIAGE+ project aims to improve early access to diagnosis and treatment for tuberculosis patients in remote areas by assessing novel active case finding strategies. A large-scale cluster-randomized clinical trial will test automated chest x-ray analysis and blood marker triage tests, aiming to reduce diagnostic costs.
Researchers develop method to induce bacteria to switch between pathways at different times, optimizing production without human intervention. This approach boosts microbial yields by up to tenfold for two different products.
A new study reveals that malaria parasites sourced from 1940s blood-stained microscope slides originated from Europe, with genetic similarities to modern strains found in the Americas. The research sheds light on the historical spread of Plasmodium vivax malaria and its potential for drug resistance.
Research reveals that gentoo penguins adapted to a diet of fish and squid, while chinstrap penguins continued to eat krill exclusively, making them more susceptible to climate change impacts. Human activities since the 1930s have led to significant declines in chinstrap penguin populations.
Research suggests oxygenated ocean waters existed during the 'Snowball Earth' ice ages, allowing aerobic eukaryotes to survive. Iron isotope ratios and cerium anomalies in iron formations indicate input from oxygenated meltwater from the ice sheet base.
Researchers at the University of Johannesburg have decoded how priming with rhizobacteria enhances sorghum's resistance to fungal attacks. The low-cost approach can be used to counter other pathogens in economically important food crops, boosting crop yields and reducing environmental impact.
A global study reveals that demand for electric power poses significant threats to biodiversity, particularly in countries where coal is a major energy source. The research suggests shifting to renewable energy sources could mitigate these impacts.
Researchers at ORNL demonstrated an additively manufactured polymer layer can protect carbon fiber reinforced plastic (CFRP) from aircraft lightning strikes. The polymer layer, applied to CFRP, showed minimal damage upon simulated lightning strike tests, providing a continuous path for heat dissipation.
The article sheds light on Käthe Beutler's life, from her early days as a pioneering female doctor in Berlin to her family's perilous emigration from Nazi Germany. Her story highlights the challenges faced by women, particularly Jewish ones, under the National Socialist regime.
Researchers from the La Jolla Institute for Immunology identified a new role for HMCES in alternative end-joining, a secondary strategy used by mammalian cells to rejoin severe cuts across both strands of DNA. This discovery suggests that HMCES is versatile enough to accomplish entirely different tasks in response to DNA damage.
Purdue University-affiliated startup GRYFN has received $4.5 million to develop precision geomatics solutions for coaligned and repeatable multi-sensor drone data collection, enabling high-throughput phenotyping in the field.
Researchers have mapped 373,869 genes in commercial sugarcane, achieving 99.1% genome coverage. This feat will facilitate genetic improvement of the world's largest crop to increase efficiency and productivity.
A study published in Nature Communications reveals that humans form mental representations of uncertainty by integrating incomplete sensory evidence into a larger context. Participants predicted the likelihood of future events based on contextual information, demonstrating a refined probabilistic representation of their environment.
Researchers at SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory have invented a method called XLEAP to observe electron movements in chemical processes that take place in billionths of a billionth of a second. This technology will provide sharp views of electrons, driving crucial aspects of life and enabling breakthrough studies.
Typhoon Kammuri's eye was obscured by a large central dense overcast (CDO) in satellite imagery from NASA-NOAA's Suomi NPP satellite. The typhoon is moving westward, with maximum sustained winds of 105 knots, and is expected to strengthen slightly before weakening and dissipating.
Researchers have mapped zebrafish brain regions involved in decision making, revealing how sensory information is integrated to trigger a behavior. The study uses whole-brain imaging and behavioral paradigms to demonstrate the accumulation of evidence over time.
A Brazilian team at FAPESP-supported Center for Research on Inflammatory Diseases identified the strategy used by immune cells to combat the pathogen Mayaro virus. The study provides a basis for the development of drugs against this disease, targeting the NLRP3 inflammasome and its role in producing proinflammatory molecules.