A type of herpesvirus infection of the eye has been found to be associated with neovascular age-related macular degeneration (AMD), a leading cause of blindness in the elderly. The virus triggers the production of vascular endothelial growth factor, leading to retinal tissue destruction and vision loss.
A recent study published in Nature Communications has identified a key component regulating pulmonary fibrosis, a fatal disease with currently no cure. The researchers found that the CLYD gene serves as a crucial negative regulator, halting disease progression and potentially opening new avenues for treatment.
A joint research project between Georgia State University and Emory University will study hospital length of stay to improve medical decision making and lower healthcare costs. The researchers will develop decision support computer software to aid physicians in making optimal discharge decisions.
A GSU professor received a $225,000 USDA grant to explore the dynamics of childhood obesity from childhood to adolescence. The research aims to identify causal effects of prior weight gains on future weight outcomes and assess the impact of food assistance programs.
A new study by Georgia State University professor Paul J. Ferraro found that saving rainforests and protecting national parks reduced poverty in Costa Rica and Thailand in the long term. The research suggests conservation efforts may provide economic opportunities through tourism and infrastructure development.
A GSU professor's research reveals a strong connection between children participating in federal school nutrition programs and an increased likelihood of becoming overweight. The study suggests that preventing childhood obesity is crucial to reducing the risk of obesity in adulthood.
A new study by Georgia State University professor Sean Richey found that residents of states with more government corruption have less trust in the general public. Increases in corruption before a survey were taken lead to decreases in belief that government officials and ordinary citizens are trustworthy.
A study by Georgia State University researchers found that young offenders' perception of an early death fuels their engagement in crime and violence. The study suggests that the prospect of a shortened life expectancy encourages young people to focus on immediate rewards, including crime.
Researchers at Georgia State University discovered that infant pain can lead to altered brain processing of pain in adulthood. Infants who spent time in the NICU show increased opioid levels and decreased mu and delta opioid receptors, affecting pain medication efficacy.
A Georgia State University professor will use a $1 million grant from the National Science Foundation to develop an integrated model that combines wildfire, weather, and operational models. The model aims to provide firefighters with a decision-making tool for combating wildfires more effectively.
A Georgia State University study found that adolescent rats are less vulnerable to drug withdrawal and relapse than adult rats, suggesting a possible protective effect of youth on substance abuse. Researchers hope to apply this knowledge to develop better treatments for human addiction.
By manipulating individual atoms in DNA, Professor Zhen Huang hopes to unlock new avenues for research into DNA replication and transcription. His study reveals that interactions between methyl and phosphate groups can reduce energy needed for DNA duplex separation, potentially leading to improved understanding of genetic processes.
A recent study by Georgia State University researchers found that chimpanzees are cognitively able to understand trade but lack the ability to spontaneously barter without human enforcement. Humans, on the other hand, have a reputation system that fosters confidence in trade, which may be unique among primates.
Timothy J. Bartness receives a multi-million dollar NIH award to further investigate the biological mechanisms of obesity. The MERIT award will aid in increasing understanding of the communication loop between fat cells and the brain.
Tabetha Boyajian, a GSU astronomy graduate student, has been awarded the prestigious Hubble Fellowship to pursue postdoctoral research on stellar sizes and planetary systems. She will use the CHARA Array to measure the size of stars and determine their effective temperature, shedding light on the habitable zones of planets.
A new Georgia State University study found that police officers with a higher ability to multitask are less likely to shoot unarmed persons when feeling threatened during video simulations. Officers with lower working memory capacity and high negative emotionality were more likely to make shooting decisions.
A study by Georgia State University found that less than half of IRB policies discuss finder's fees as conflicts of interest. Only 26% of IRBs mentioned potential conflicts when physicians recruit their own patients, highlighting a gap in guidance.
The new edition of the Tobacco Atlas highlights that tobacco use is unlikely to decrease during a recession, as products providing comfort in stressful times tend to sell well. Global tobacco use remains a significant public health concern, with $500 billion spent annually on tobacco-related illnesses and death.
A recent study by Georgia State University researchers found that adolescent girls who perceive themselves as overweight are more likely to display suicidal behaviors than those who are actually overweight. The study analyzed data from 1999-2007 and estimated the potential economic costs of obesity-related suicides.
A GSU study confirms that administering morphine prior to a painful procedure in infancy blocks long-term negative consequences of pain in adult rodents. Infant rodents who did not receive preemptive pain medication were less sensitive to morphine in adulthood, highlighting the need for pain relief in newborns.
Researchers found sex differences in brain regions responsible for pain transmission, with males and females responding differently to pain stimuli. Persistent pain activates this pathway more strongly in males than females, highlighting the need for tailored pain treatments.
Aplysia sea slugs use a system to mix and release chemicals, including L-lysine, L-arginine, and an enzyme protein called escapin, to defend against predators. The secretion stimulates feeding behaviors in some animals but deters it in others, and may also have antimicrobial properties.
Researchers at Georgia State University are exploring virtual reality (VRE) therapy as a potential solution to treat fear of public speaking. By immersing individuals in a controlled virtual environment, Anderson's study aims to reduce anxiety and improve confidence in real-world public speaking situations.
Astronomers have detected Regulus' rotationally induced distortions using the CHARA array, revealing its temperature difference between polar and equatorial regions. The star's centrifugal force causes it to expand, resulting in gravity darkening, where it becomes brighter at its poles than at its equator.
Scientists have developed a new MRI technique to study brain anatomy in live crayfish, revealing complex anatomical structures and enabling repeated imaging. This breakthrough technology provides a powerful tool for understanding neurobiology of behavior in invertebrates.
The Lewis and Clark expedition successfully traversed the new frontier due to a favorable climatic window that allowed for abundant food sources. If they had traveled during an intense drought, their journey might have been significantly impacted, potentially altering the course of U.S. expansion into the West.
The National Science Foundation has renewed funding for the Center for Women's Careers and Sciences (CWCS) at Georgia State University. Over 450 educators from 280 institutions across 45 states have participated in CWCS workshops on various topics, including environmental chemistry and forensic science.