Researchers examine differences between Southern California's summer and Santa Ana fires, which exhibit split personalities due to climate-driven conditions. Climate change increases the risk of both fire types, with non-Santa-Ana summer fires becoming more prevalent.
A UCI study finds a significant increase in concurrent droughts and heat waves, posing a more severe threat due to their combined impact. Researchers attribute the rise to rising global temperatures, which raise the probability of extreme weather events.
A UCI study found that acupuncture treatments significantly reduced systolic and diastolic blood pressures in hypertensive patients. The treatment also lowered levels of norepinephrine and renin, which constrict blood vessels and increase blood pressure.
A new study reveals a strong connection between Amazon fires and North Atlantic hurricanes, with warmer ocean temperatures contributing to both phenomena. The research found that reduced atmospheric moisture flow from the North Atlantic leads to drier conditions in the Amazon, creating an environment conducive to wildfires.
A new study by Jennifer B. Kane found that a woman's weight at birth, education level, and marital status before pregnancy can impact the birth weight of her daughters and granddaughters, with biological and social factors influencing this cycle across generations.
Participants with late-stage retinitis pigmentosa are being enrolled in the clinical trial to test the safety of retinal progenitor cells. The open-label phase I/IIa trial aims to evaluate the treatment's efficacy in preserving vision by protecting and potentially reactivating degenerating photoreceptors.
Researchers found that interaction between the San Jacinto and San Andreas faults weakened earthquake ground shaking near them, preserving precariously balanced boulders. This discovery has practical implications for earthquake planning scenarios in the region.
A study by the University of California Irvine found that economic downturns, rather than increased natural gas use, were responsible for a 11% decrease in climate-changing carbon dioxide emissions in the US. This shift was driven by changes in consumer demand and industrial output.
Researchers developed a screening test to measure mutant huntingtin protein seeding in cerebrospinal fluid, distinguishing symptomatic Huntington's patients from gene carriers. This assay may accelerate the development of new drugs to treat this incurable disease by blocking cell-to-cell seeding.
A third of the world's biggest groundwater basins are under stress, with many running out quickly without reliable data. The studies found major discrepancies in projected 'time to depletion' and highlighted the need for a coordinated global effort to determine remaining water reserves.
Researchers discovered that chronic pain causes brain inflammation, altering mood and motivation regions. A new treatment approach may help restore dopamine release and reward-motivated behavior in patients with chronic pain.
Residents and commercial users slashed their water use to 41 gallons per person per day by 2010, thanks to a culture shift among ordinary water users. An integrated water management system was key to Melbourne's success in reducing demand during the drought.
Researchers successfully reactivated plasticity in adult brains by transplanting GABA neurons, allowing for vigorous rewiring and improved vision in amblyopic mice. The findings hold promise for future clinical applications and therapies for incurable brain disorders.
A recent UCI study found the brain adapts quickly to vision loss in low-light conditions, contradicting earlier research. This discovery opens the door to novel treatments and rehabilitation techniques that could help restore vision.
UCI MIND has been redesignated as an Alzheimer's Disease Research Center, allowing it to continue its impactful clinical and basic research programs. The center involves over 100 investigators studying the cellular, molecular, and clinical risk factors of Alzheimer's disease.
Researchers found that dietary deficiencies in n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids limit brain growth during fetal development and early in life. A balanced diet rich in these fatty acids is essential for proper pre- and postnatal neural growth.
A new website called WebTIPS provides individualized information and support to help children and parents prepare for surgery, reducing anxiety levels. The site uses evidence-based strategies and interactive features like animations and games to familiarize children with the hospital experience.
Researchers at UCI School of Medicine found a potential cause for cryptogenic strokes in 23% of patients with a left atrial septal pouch. The pouch's cul-de-sac nature may promote blood stagnation and clot formation, leading to stroke.
A UCI team led by Leslie Thompson will establish an HD therapy employing human embryonic stem cells that can be evaluated in clinical trials. The researchers have identified a highly promising neural stem cell line showing disease-modifying activity in HD mice, and will conduct preclinical efficacy and safety studies.
A computer modeling analysis led by UC Irvine scientists found that levee detonations in 2011 reduced the risk of flooding in a city upstream. The study showed that allowing levees to overtop naturally would have resulted in less erosion and similar damage to crops and buildings.
Researchers at UC Irvine will investigate the behavioral impairments of rodents attributed to space radiation exposure, aiming to understand the underlying causes of these deficits. The study aims to inform efforts to minimize the effects of solar and galactic cosmic radiation on the central nervous system.
UCI psychologists found that liberals employ positive language in speech, smile more intensely, and genuinely, whereas conservatives do not. This contradicts previous self-reports suggesting conservatives are happier than liberals.
Researchers have discovered how light disrupts biological clocks and propose a two-day recovery time for jet lag. They found that weakening synchronization among neurons governed by circadian patterns enables rapid adaptation to new time zones.
A study by UCI and Stanford researchers found that daily automessages on Twitter increased smoking cessation rates. The hybrid approach combined automated messages with social media, resulting in a 75% success rate for quitting smoking.
Researchers found that the Gomafu gene is dynamically regulated in the adult brain, affecting behavior related to anxiety and schizophrenia. The discovery sheds light on the gene's potential as a surveillance system for rapid brain responses to environmental changes.
Researchers at UCI found that transplanted human neural stem cells can restore cognitive functions in rats with chemotherapy-induced damage. The study suggests that stem cell therapies may one day provide relief to patients suffering from cognitive impairments incurred as a result of their cancer treatments.
Methamphetamine abuse accelerates aging by causing abnormalities in cellular fat metabolism and triggering inflammation. Researchers have identified methods to limit this process using inhibitors of nuclear factor kappa beta signaling.
A UCI study reveals that conifer tree species drive different types of fires in North America and Eurasia, with varying climate effects. These patterns have large-scale implications for fire ecology, climate modeling, and forest management.
UCI professors have developed a device that can restore molecular proteins in egg whites after they have been boiled, potentially slashing biotechnology costs. This innovation could transform industrial and research production of proteins, making cancer treatments more affordable and improving protein manufacturing efficiency.
Researchers found that circadian rhythms play a key role in coordinating daily metabolic cycles and cell division in skin stem cells. This regulation helps avoid DNA damage caused by metabolism-generated oxygen radicals.
During the annual hajj pilgrimage, scientists detected high levels of air pollutants, including carbon monoxide and benzene, in Mecca. The exposure to these chemicals increases the risk of heart failure, headaches, and other serious health issues, highlighting the need for improved regulations and reduced emissions.
A new study by UC Irvine neurobiologists suggests that multiple, short learning sessions can strengthen memory formation in fragile X syndrome. Trained using this method, fragile X model mice performed as well on memory tests as normal mice.
Researchers at UC Irvine found that small drainpipes at enclosed ocean bays produce high fecal counts during summer months, impacting calmer waters. The team suggests green remedies like bioswales and drought-inspired reductions in irrigation runoff to capture urban slobber before it reaches drains.
The study reveals that the Amundsen Sea Embayment in West Antarctica is losing ice at an incredible rate, with the total amount of loss averaging 83 gigatons per year. This is equivalent to Mt. Everest's worth of water weight lost every two years over the past 21 years.
Researchers have developed a potent and systematic AC inhibitor, tilting the balance between pro-aging/death and pro-life chemical signals in favor of death. The compound may be used as 'chemosensitizers' to enhance anti-tumoral drug efficacy.
The Equitable Science Curriculum for Integrating Arts in Public Education project integrates arts and sciences to help elementary students grasp basic scientific concepts. The program, launched with $6.4 million NSF funding, uses creative movement and visual arts to enhance learning and reduce cognitive load.
The UCI team has created a new technology called Integrated Comprehensive Droplet Digital Detection (IC 3D) that can detect bacterial invaders in blood samples with unprecedented speed and accuracy. In as little as 90 minutes, IC 3D can identify bacteria at single-cell sensitivity without the need for cell culture.
A UC Irvine-led study has revealed that a gene called grainyhead triggers a repair pathway for psoriasis lesions. The researchers found that targeting this mechanism may lead to pharmaceutical products that limit the itchy, painful lesions of psoriasis.
Researchers created a nano-optical sensor to detect trace levels of lung infection in breath, aiming for commercial availability. The device could also monitor environmental conditions.
The University of California, Irvine is leading an $8 million National Institutes of Health effort to develop a comprehensive database of human brain cell activity. The project will focus on understanding the underlying mechanisms of motor neuron disorders like ALS and other neurodegenerative diseases.
Weian Zhao, a UCI stem cell scientist, has been awarded the prestigious NIH New Innovator Award to create stem cell-based detection methods for cancer. His project aims to engineer smart stem cell systems to target cancer cells and improve treatment outcomes.
A new study by UC Irvine researchers reveals the crucial role of glycosylation in determining how T cells are created and selected. The findings provide insight into a vital process that determines the body's ability to fight infection.
A recent study by UC Irvine researchers suggests that relying on natural gas to reduce emissions will have minimal effect. The study found that high gas usage can delay the construction of low-carbon energy facilities, ultimately leading to increased cumulative emissions.
Researchers from UCI capture moving images of a single molecule as it vibrates and shifts between quantum states, opening a window into the realm of quantum mechanics. This breakthrough could lead to applications such as lightning-fast quantum computers and uncrackable encryption.
A UCI study reveals that brain inflammation can severely impact the ability to retrieve complex memories, but not simpler ones. Researchers found that immune system signaling molecules called cytokines disrupt communication among neurons in the hippocampus, leading to impaired discrimination memory.
Researchers at UC Irvine and UC Merced found that increased high-elevation plant growth fueled by climate warming could lead to a significant decrease in river flow. The study suggests that this effect could be widespread across the Sierra Nevada region.
A study by UC Irvine and Princeton University found that existing power plants will emit approximately 300 billion tons of carbon dioxide over their lifetimes. The emissions growth rate is around 4% per year, largely driven by the rapid expansion of coal-burning power plants in countries like China and India.
Researchers at UCI found that two circadian-linked proteins, SIRT1 and SIRT6, manage separate and distinct metabolic processes in the liver. This discovery sheds new light on how the body's internal clock influences metabolic functions and could lead to more targeted treatments for liver disease and related disorders.
A new study by UCI and NASA scientists reveals that more than three-quarters of the water loss in the drought-stricken Colorado River Basin since late 2004 came from underground resources. The extent of groundwater loss may pose a greater threat to the region's water supply than previously thought.
A combination treatment of gene inhibitor AAVshPTEN and salmon fibrin injections restored voluntary motor function impaired by spinal cord injury in rodents. This breakthrough expands on previous research at UCI and provides a novel scaffold for neuronal axons to grow and link up again.