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In China, training doctors reduced STI risk

A study published in The Lancet Global Health found that doctors trained on sexually transmitted infections (STIs) had 38% lower odds of patients being infected with gonorrhea or chlamydia. This training also led to improved knowledge among physicians and reduced rates of new STI transmissions.

SourceBrown University·JournalThe Lancet Global Health·DateDec 23, 2015

Blocking fat transport linked to longevity

A new study reveals that blocking the production of a naturally occurring protein responsible for transporting fats around the body increases life span in nematodes and mice. The research suggests that this protein, VIT, hinders essential cell functions and prevents the reuse of fats for healthier purposes.

SourceBrown University·JournalAutophagy·DateDec 22, 2015

Review: PTSD resources lacking for nonveterans

A new study finds that treatment resources for non-veterans with PTSD are much less cohesive and helpful than those available to veterans. The review of research literature highlights the need for better guidance on treating PTSD in specific vulnerable subpopulations, such as victims of sexual assault and natural disasters.

SourceBrown University·JournalHarvard Review of Psychiatry·DateDec 18, 2015

Brown, RIH win grants to teach addiction screening

The Brown University and Rhode Island Hospital have been awarded grants to integrate substance abuse screening and intervention into their curriculum. The training program aims to expand screening and intervention for opioid overdose deaths in Rhode Island, which has seen a rise in opioid-related deaths. The program will provide traini...

HIV spreads faster as violent conflict looms

A new study by Brown University found that HIV incidence rises significantly in the five years leading up to bloodshed in sub-Saharan Africa. The rate of new infections increases by 2.1 infections per 1000 people a year during this period, compared to times of peace.

SourceBrown University·JournalPLOS ONE·DateNov 12, 2015

Self-calibration enhances BrainGate ease, reliability

A new study improves BrainGate's user experience and performance with three software innovations, allowing users to control electronic devices without frequent recalibration. The advancements enable longer use sessions and improved accuracy, paving the way for a practical BCI assistive technology.

SourceBrown University·JournalScience Translational Medicine·DateNov 11, 2015

Tissue engineers recruit cells to make their own strong matrix

Scientists at Brown University have successfully cultured cells to produce extracellular matrix with strength comparable to natural tissues. By using specialized molds to guide cell growth and alignment, the researchers created ECMs with specific mechanical properties, such as collagen fibers aligned along a tendon-like structure.

SourceBrown University·JournalBiomaterials·DateNov 9, 2015

Researchers transform slow emitters into fast light sources

By rapidly changing the environment around phosphor emitters, researchers have developed a method to modulate their emission at high speeds, overcoming the limitation of slow optical lifetimes. This breakthrough could enable the use of phosphors in new applications, such as optical communications networks on computer chips.

SourceBrown University·JournalNature Communications·DateOct 22, 2015

What smacks into Ceres stays on Ceres, research suggests

Researchers found that impacts on Ceres tend to retain large proportions of material, suggesting a homogeneous surface composed of meteoritic material collected over billions of years. This could have implications for asteroid sample return missions and require careful landing site selection.

SourceBrown University·JournalGeophysical Research Letters·DateOct 14, 2015

When care turns costly, patients leave private Medicare

A new Brown University study found that patients who require high-cost services like hospital, at-home, or nursing home care are more likely to switch from private Medicare Advantage plans to traditional Medicare. This shift occurs despite federal policy aimed at preventing it, raising questions about the effectiveness of current regul...

SourceBrown University·JournalHealth Affairs·DateOct 5, 2015

An accessible approach to making a mini-brain

The researchers created mini-brains using living tissue from a single rodent, which can form complex neural connections and produce electrical signals within two weeks. The approach is expected to reduce animal use in neuroscience research and make it more accessible to labs without advanced equipment.

High-volume facilities better for nursing hip fractures

A recent study suggests that experienced skilled nursing facilities are more likely to successfully discharge patients back to the community within 30 days of breaking a hip. Facilities with over 24 cases in the prior year had a discharge rate of 43.7%, compared to 18.8% for those with fewer cases.

SourceBrown University·JournalJournal of the American Geriatrics Society·DateSep 30, 2015

Like a foreman, brain region keeps us on task

A study published in Neuron found that the rostrolateral prefrontal cortex (RLPFC) plays a crucial role in internally monitoring and guiding our behavior through sequences of tasks. By disrupting this region, researchers observed an increase in errors, highlighting its importance for cognitive control.

SourceBrown University·JournalNeuron·DateSep 23, 2015

Can mindfulness help patients stay in treatment?

Researchers at Brown University are conducting a five-year study on mindfulness and patient treatment adherence, funded by a $4.7 million NIH grant. The study aims to determine whether mindfulness interventions can influence self-regulation related to medical regimen adherence, with the goal of improving health outcomes.

Researchers develop key component for terahertz wireless

Researchers from Brown University have developed a system for multiplexing terahertz waves, which enables separate streams of data to travel through a single medium. This technology has the potential to support terahertz wireless systems that can deliver data at much higher speeds than current cellular or Wi-Fi networks.

SourceBrown University·JournalNature Photonics·DateSep 14, 2015

Pigments, organelles persist in fossil feathers

Researchers have found evidence that melanosomes, which produce melanin pigment, are preserved in the fossil record of Anchiornis huxleyi, a bird-like dinosaur. The study uses electron microscopy and chemical analysis to demonstrate that the microbodies are indeed melanosomes, not microbes.

SourceBrown University·JournalScientific Reports·DateAug 27, 2015

Bright screens at night imperil sleep of young teens

A new study found that taking a gadget to bed can suppress melatonin production and disrupt sleep patterns in children aged 9-15, especially those in early puberty. The study also found that brighter screen lights have a greater impact on sleep, with 500 lux being the most effective at suppressing melatonin.

SourceBrown University·JournalThe Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism·DateAug 26, 2015

Research may solve lunar fire fountain mystery

Scientists from Brown University and Carnegie Institution for Science have identified the volatile gas that drove lunar fire fountain eruptions, a type of eruption that occurs frequently in Hawaii. The gas is found to be carbon monoxide (CO), which combined with oxygen to form, responsible for the fire fountains that sprayed volcanic g...

SourceBrown University·JournalNature Geoscience·DateAug 24, 2015

Study backs flu vaccinations for elderly

A new Brown University study analyzed nursing home records to show that flu vaccinations significantly reduce deaths and hospitalizations among the elderly. The study found a 50-percentage point increase in match rate for A/H3N2 strain resulted in saving 2,560 lives and preventing 3,200 hospitalizations.

SourceBrown University·JournalJournal of the American Geriatrics Society·DateAug 24, 2015