Researchers Beau Lotto and Dale Purves suggest that the visual system perceives color based on reflectances and illuminances of past stimuli. In experiments, subjects adjusted colors to match perceived color differences, showing an increased difference when contexts suggested different objects or illumination.
Researchers will follow 1,000 HIV patients over three years to track health, attitudes, and treatment patterns, with a focus on rural areas where barriers hinder efforts to reduce HIV spread and mortality. The study aims to explore the role of coping mechanisms, stress, and social support in HIV transmission and disease progression.
The extinction of the Miss Waldron's red colobus monkey is a warning sign of an impending ecological disaster in West Africa. The loss of large-bodied monkeys, including primates and forest antelope, threatens the region's biodiversity, highlighting the need for improved law enforcement, protected areas, and conservation education.
Researchers at Duke University Medical Center and Geron Corp. have made promising findings on a 'universal' cancer vaccine based on the telomerase protein. The active part of telomerase can stimulate development of immune cells that recognize and kill multiple, unrelated mouse and human cancer cells.
The International Free-Electron Laser Conference and Workshop will bring together specialists from around the world to discuss advancements in free-electron lasers. The conference, hosted by Duke University's DFELL laboratory, will showcase research on applications such as corneal wound healing, nanostructures, and neurosurgery.
Researchers analyzed ancient sediments to shed light on ancient drought cycles and their potential link to future aridity. The study found well-defined 80- to 100-year cycles of alternately arid and humid conditions in the region.
A study published in Nature found that hummingbirds, parrots, and songbirds have evolved similar brain structures to learn and mimic songs. The discovery sheds light on the evolution of language in humans and raises questions about whether birds developed this ability independently or from a common ancestor.
A Duke University study found that carbon dioxide-enriched air accelerates pine tree reproduction, resulting in earlier maturation and higher seed production. This trend may have significant implications for forest regeneration and the Southeast's economy, where loblollies are a crucial forest product.
Scientists use declassified spy satellite images and aerial photographs to document an increase in both shrub numbers and area in a former arid grassland. The study reveals that honey mesquite bushes now dominate large areas of the Southwest, with most shrubs holding their ground despite early droughts.
Researchers found that Pin1 depletion allows cell division despite DNA damage, suggesting drugs inhibiting Pin1 could trigger cancer cells to divide and die even with lethal damage. This approach may spare normal cells from uncontrolled division.
Researchers at Duke University developed heat-triggered liposomes that can deliver anti-cancer drugs to tumors, delaying growth and eradicating human tumors in mice. The new technology uses specially engineered liposomes that release their cargo rapidly when heated to temperatures just above normal body temperature.
Researchers have identified three key brain areas - superior frontal, inferior parietal and superior temporal cortex - that show activity during attentional tasks. This mapping represents a crucial step towards understanding the detailed topography and function of these regions.
A team of botanists used DNA analysis to study the underground travels of plant roots, discovering that some species can extend their roots up to 75 feet into the ground. This research contributes to a better understanding of how plants interact with their environment and climate change.
A Duke study reveals that the pressures under poured sandpiles are highest at their peripheries due to unbalanced distributions of stresses. In contrast, showered sand piles concentrate stresses at their centers like medieval cathedrals' flying buttresses. This research has practical importance for structures prone to self-destruction.
Researchers at Duke University discovered that cancer gene c-Abl triggers the internal framework of cells, building nerve cells and aiding movement. Altering levels of growth factors and Src protein revealed c-Abl's normal function.
Neurobiologists at Duke University Medical Center have captured the first detailed images of the living brain in action, revealing how it recognizes specific odor molecules. The imaging technique can provide new insights into the machinery of learning and help decipher the brain's internal 'language' of smell.
Scientists have identified enzymes called kinases that add phosphates to inositol, triggering the export of messenger RNA from the cell nucleus. The discovery provides insight into a previously unknown signaling pathway and its role in regulating gene expression.
A four-decade study of a Southeastern forest found that while trees take up substantial amounts of atmospheric carbon dioxide, the accumulation in soils is relatively slow. The researchers used radioactive Carbon-14 as a tracer to estimate carbon sequestration and found that only a small percentage of carbon was retained in topsoil, wi...
Researchers developed a method to record brain signals onto electrode arrays in rats, enabling them to control a robotic arm without muscle movement. This achievement demonstrates the likelihood of implanting electrodes into human brains to control prosthetic devices.
A study by Duke University researchers found that Medicare patients treated at major teaching hospitals have better survival rates for common conditions like hip fractures, stroke, and coronary heart disease. However, these facilities cost the Medicare program more than non-teaching hospitals.
Orrin Pilkey, a Duke University geologist, argues that engineering models used to predict natural processes, such as beach erosion, are flawed and damaging to society. He proposes that beach erosion is linked to rising sea levels and that some coastal engineering measures can exacerbate erosion.
Research suggests that estuaries are vital habitats for juvenile fish in the Southeastern US, providing better sanctuaries and food supplies than offshore waters. Degradation of estuarine habitats due to human activities, such as overfishing and nutrient pollution, threatens the productivity of fisheries.
The National Journal of Young Investigators (JYI) has published its premier online issue, featuring undergraduate-authored articles in various scientific disciplines. The journal aims to provide a platform for young scientists to showcase their research, discuss experiences, and connect with the scientific community.
Duke University chemists have developed novel liquid polymers that can be solidified by laser light to seal transplanted insulin-producing cells inside a selectively permeable capsule. The microcapsules reduce excessive blood sugar levels in experimental diabetic rats for up to eight days.
Researchers discovered rare molecular interactions between skin molecules and UV-A light that can cause photoaging. The study found that UV-A wavelengths lead to weak molecular transitions, raising oxygen molecule energy levels to a damaging state.
A study by Duke University researchers found that selectively logged Indonesian rainforests have comparable levels of tree species diversity to unlogged forests eight years later. The results suggest that these forests are more resilient than previously thought and may hold conservation potential.
Phytoplankton, tiny marine plants and bacteria, have evolved to stabilize the Earth's atmosphere by regulating atmospheric carbon dioxide levels. They convert sunlight into oxygen and sequester carbon deep in the ocean, influencing climate regulation.
Researchers found that an enzyme called kinase IV is regulated by another enzyme called phosphatase 2A, which attaches to it and quickly shuts it down. This discovery provides insight into how cells control their activities and offers potential for developing targeted drugs to kill cancer cells or bacteria.
A Duke University Medical Center pharmacologist finds that maternal smoking causes massive numbers of crib deaths and severe neurological problems in
Duke University researchers have developed a new treatment that significantly extends the survival of patients with glioblastoma multiforme, the most malignant brain cancer. The treatment involves injecting antibodies carrying radioactive Iodine-131 directly into the tumor cells, achieving a median survival time of about 56 weeks.
Researchers from Duke University and the University of Pennsylvania have gained crystal-clear insight into ribonuclease P, an enzyme that forms a crucial partnership with RNA to construct proteins. The findings suggest an ancient remnant of early life's evolution when RNA molecules were enzymatic workhorses.
A Duke University geological study proposes that earthquakes triggered the massive and puzzling swarms of icebergs believed to have separated from the Canadian ice sheet. The researchers hypothesize that periodic crustal failure along the eastern Canadian coast, caused by the growing weight of the ice sheet, led to the quakes, which th...
A team of researchers from Duke University found that the hypoglossal canal, which controls tongue movement, is larger in humans and Neanderthals than in apes and proto-humans. This discovery challenges the theory that human speech may not have arisen until around 40,000 years ago.
Researchers have made rapid progress on a new class of anti-cancer drugs that target the Ras protein activation pathway, which causes up to 90% of pancreatic cancers. Laboratory studies have shown effective inhibition of cancer cells using FTase inhibitors.
Researchers find that competition for resources affects organ growth, leading to changes in traits like wings and horns. This phenomenon resolves a conundrum identified by Charles Darwin, suggesting that genes are not the sole determinant of development.
Scientists at Duke University discovered a genetic switch that governs prostate cancer progression. The switch controls the production of FGF-R2 receptors, which can lead to
Researchers at Duke University discovered that granular particles can form dramatic chains to relieve stress, leading to potential explanations for self-destruction in passive containers. The study may also shed light on natural phenomena like earthquakes and the behavior of materials under low gravity.
String theory proposes that elementary particles are vibrating strings in 10 dimensions, requiring a reconciliation of quantum mechanics and general relativity. Mathematicians have found Calabi-Yau manifolds that describe simple equations, which resemble special black holes in our four-dimensional world.
A Duke University study found that state efforts to increase health insurance coverage among near-elderly individuals were largely ineffective due to high out-of-pocket premiums and limited affordability. The researchers argue that a single-payer system like those in other developed countries may be more effective in reducing the unins...
Duke University researchers discovered an enzyme that copies DNA in living cells can also function in crystal form, revealing details of its intricate machinery. The study sheds light on the enzyme's ability to incorporate only correct nucleotide pieces into DNA, a critical process for life.
Duke engineers will develop computer software to provide students with easy-to-use simulations of imaging equipment, enhancing training of biomedical engineers and physicians. The Virtual Imaging Laboratory will also be established to teach the physics and design of diagnostic technologies.
A new national health database allows researchers to measure the long-term benefits of biomedical research on the entire US population. The database, created using data from National Long Term Care Surveys, shows significant declines in chronic disability and institutionalization among older Americans.
A study of 65 patients found that those with the Alzheimer's-related gene apoliprotein E-4 (APOE-4) are more susceptible to mental impairment after open heart surgery. The researchers believe this is due to the variant gene's inability to repair nerve cells efficiently.
A Duke University theoretical chemist has developed a divide and conquer method to model electronic structures of large molecules with reduced calculations. The technique enables researchers to precisely describe electron interactions, providing a more refined picture of molecule behavior.
A Duke University study found that working mothers' stress hormone levels increase even with just one child at home, putting them at a higher risk for health problems. The study also showed that the number of children does not affect stress levels, and that quality of work and family experiences may be key factors in stress levels.
Researchers found glioblastoma multiforme tumors resistant to procarbazine exhibited defects in mismatch repair, leading to drug resistance. The study may lead to more effective treatment of GBM, a common and virulent brain tumor.
Researchers found a strong link between increased ovulatory cycles and p53 genetic mutations in ovarian cancer. Women at high risk can protect themselves by reducing their ovulation through birth control, pregnancy, or breast-feeding.
A four-year study found that poverty is a significant risk factor for emotional disturbances in white children, but not in American Indian children. Despite having a higher poverty rate, American Indian children were less likely to experience emotional disturbances.
Researchers have found fertile offspring that closely resemble primitive domesticated corn, carrying genetic traits from two wild American grasses. These hybrids exhibit resistance to the corn rootworm and drought tolerance, potentially leading to improved crop yields and reduced pesticide expenses.
Researchers at Duke University have discovered that nerve growth factors can oppose each other in the brain, shaping neural networks in response to experience and learning. This finding has significant implications for the development of therapies for neurodegenerative disorders such as ALS and Alzheimer's disease.