A University of Oregon-led team has identified oligodendrocyte precursor cells (OPCs) as the cellular origin of malignant glioma, a deadly human brain cancer. The discovery was made possible by a genetic mosaic technique that allowed researchers to pinpoint the point of origin for tumor development.
New lab experiments reveal that sulfur dioxide molecules are captured by the top-most surface water molecules when approaching a water surface at low temperatures, forming reactive aqueous particulates. The findings have important implications for understanding airborne pollutants and their role in global warming.
Researchers at the University of Oregon are working on a project to design fractal devices that can be implanted in the eyes to restore vision. These devices will mimic the natural pattern found in the retina and could potentially overcome current limitations in chip technology, which are not compatible with neurons.
Researchers have developed a novel technique called RAD paired-end contigs that enables rapid and accurate genome assembly. This method uses restriction-site associated DNA markers to identify and assemble small sections of the genome, resulting in an efficient and minimally fragmented final product.
Researchers found that students who believe in a harsh, punishing God are less likely to cheat on tests, whereas those who believe in a loving, forgiving God are more likely to cheat. This suggests that the type of God one believes in plays a significant role in shaping moral behavior.
New research from the University of Oregon found that breast cancer awareness campaigns have reduced fluctuations in diagnoses, with most cases now linked to routine screenings. The study suggests that increased awareness and advocacy efforts have led to better screening rates among American women.
A new study from the University of Oregon found that even brief skills training can enhance supportive responses to disclosures of mistreatment. The training focused on verbal and nonverbal ways of conveying support, and listeners who received this training demonstrated significantly fewer unsupportive behaviors.
Research using fMRI scans found that brain activity in areas responsible for emotional regulation increased significantly between ages 10 and 13, allowing children to better resist peer influence. This study provides insight into the brain's wiring during adolescence and may lay the foundation for future studies with clinical relevance.
Researchers found that text messaging is at least as effective as handheld devices in measuring smoking urges and resisting cravings, with tailored interventions tailored to individuals' response-inhibition capacities. The study also identified key brain regions involved in response inhibition.
A team of researchers has uncovered numerous artifacts on California's Channel Islands, revealing a diversified sea-based economy among North American inhabitants from 12,200 to 11,400 years ago. The discoveries include stemmed projectile points and crescents associated with shellfish, seals, and other marine animals.
Researchers at the University of Oregon used fMRI scans to study brain activity in depressed mothers responding to their infants' cries. The findings suggest that depression can blunt a mother's response to her infant's emotional cues, affecting their relationship.
A new study dating back 1,000 years of earthquakes at the San Andreas Fault shows no correlation between lake changes and earthquake timing. Despite this, researchers warn of a likely buildup of tectonic stress, making a major quake possible for southern California in the near future.
A study of preschoolers found that they prefer foods high in salt, sugar, and fat, even from specific brands. Children as young as 3-5 years old can equate their taste preferences to brand-name fast-food and soda products.
A new study by University of Oregon researchers found that pro-social friends and avoiding deviant peer groups are crucial for boosting academic success in middle school. In contrast, having friends who engage in problem behavior is related to a decrease in grades.
A recent study, led by Hélène Morlon, has found that evolutionary diversity is more sensitive to extinctions or habitat loss than previously thought. The researchers built an evolutionary tree tracing plant species back to their common ancestor and applied mathematical approaches to consider the impact of geographic separation on phylo...
Researchers found that leaf-cutter ants change tasks when mandibles wear out, allowing more efficient sisters to take over. This division of labor allows the colony to remain productive while minimizing energy loss.
Researchers at the University of Oregon found that a person's ability to store more items in their short-term memory is linked to higher fluid intelligence as measured by IQ tests. In contrast, the clarity or resolution of those memories shows no relationship with fluid intelligence.
Researchers discovered that cell membranes behave as viscoelastic materials, bouncing back like rubber when quickly perturbed. This finding challenges the long-held notion of biological membranes being simple Newtonian fluids.
Researchers found that heat acclimation provided significant benefits for athletes competing in cool weather, including improved aerobic performance. The study's findings suggest that heat acclimation could be a practical and effective approach to improve athletic performance in cooler conditions.
Researchers found that old logging practices led to unprecedented soil erosion in southern Oregon's Siskiyou Mountains, which remains a threat despite improved practices. The study analyzed charcoal, pollen, and sediment cores to understand the impacts of fires over the last 2,000 years.
University of Oregon researchers discovered that good bacteria modulate the Wnt signaling pathway, which is also associated with colorectal cancer. This finding suggests that microbial signals may play a significant role in cancer risk, and targeted therapy may be possible.
Researchers reconstructed an ancient protein and traced its subtle changes over time to produce diverse modern-day descendants. They found that evolution tweaked the ancestral structure to create partnerships with new hormones or signals, leading to independent proteins with increased stability.
Researchers at the University of Oregon have invented a method to change the color of single photons in a fiber optic cable, enabling faster data transfer and more secure communication. This breakthrough has the potential to revolutionize quantum computing and internet security.
A team of researchers at the University of Oregon has made a groundbreaking discovery about stem cell division, finding that cortical proteins help position a cleavage furrow in the right location. This new mechanism has important implications for understanding how stem cells divide to produce unique cell types.
A team of University of Oregon scientists has found that when a sound is loud enough, auditory neurons simply accept it and ignore subsequent reverberations. This simplifies the filtering process, suggesting that a sophisticated system to suppress echoes may not be necessary.
Researchers have identified a gene likely responsible for Fuchs corneal dystrophy, an inheritable genetic disorder causing corneal transplant operations. The TCF4 gene variation significantly increases the risk of developing the disease.
Research published at the University of Oregon found that 11 hours of integrative body-mind training (IBMT) meditation training induces structural changes in brain connectivity, particularly in the anterior cingulate cortex. This brain area is linked to self-regulation and behavior control.
A study of 500 undergraduate students found that high-school opportunities in technology shape their abilities to engage in university academics. Insufficient preparation can lead to a sense of not belonging and limited perspectives as academic beings.
A University of Oregon study of 585 elementary school students found that students' willingness to take intellectual risks in science decreases with age. However, students who were interested in science and felt supported by their teachers were significantly more likely to engage in intellectual risk-taking. The study suggests that tea...
A study suggests a possible early warning sign for autism spectrum disorders in families, with older siblings showing trends of hyperactivity and behavioral problems. Mothers of young autistic children experience more depression and stress than mothers of typically developing children.
Researchers have identified genomic regions that enabled an ocean-dwelling fish to adapt to freshwater environments in several independently evolved populations. The study, combining new technologies, found similar gene regions across different lakes and populations.
A University of Oregon team has isolated an independent channel in the brain's auditory cortex that deals specifically with shutting off sound processing at appropriate times. This finding supports an emerging theory that a separate set of synapses is responsible for both processing sounds and their disappearance.
Actin's behavior has been studied using inhibitory agents and hormones to induce a state of fluctuation in yeast cells. The findings suggest that mitochondria recruit actin-related proteins to assemble into extended fractal-like structures, coordinating movement and supporting the idea that intracellular transport is achieved through a...
The First Step To Success program has shown robust improvements among at-risk elementary students in the Albuquerque, N.M., school district. The four-year study found significant impact on behavioral symptoms and social functioning among participating students, with effect sizes ranging from .54 to .87.
Researchers at the University of Oregon and University of Rochester discovered a compound that reverses genetic defects in RNA leading to type 1 myotonic dystrophy. The compound, pentamidine, disrupts complexes formed by expanded repeats and protein molecules, allowing proper splicing errors to be rescued.
A study by University of Oregon researchers found that nematode worms with partners were more resistant to genetic mutations and better adapted to changing environments. This suggests that having a mate provides an evolutionary advantage over self-fertilization, leading to longer lives for offspring.
Researchers at the University of Oregon have found that evolution can only go forward, as genetic mutations block paths to ancestral genes. The team resurrected ancient proteins and manipulated them to study reverse evolution, discovering that restrictive mutations act like an evolutionary ratchet, preventing reversal.
Researchers at the University of Oregon have successfully demonstrated that specially synthesized boron compounds can be accepted by biologically active enzymes. This breakthrough could lead to new drug design strategies and boost boron's expanding use in medicine.
A University of Oregon study found that 94% of LGBTQ respondents believe sexual violence is a problem in their community, but only 72% agree it exists locally. The study also revealed that 87% of respondents felt local agencies and law enforcement were ill-equipped to address the issue.
A study of 84 students found that those with high working-memory capacity were more resistant to distractions, while those with low capacity struggled to focus. The researchers suggest that improving the brain's ability to filter out irrelevant stimuli could lead to new therapies for easily distracted individuals.
Researchers at the University of Oregon have discovered a new class of self-assembling materials that can control colloidal interactions by applying biological molecules from cell membranes. The findings suggest that specially tweaked biological membranes can serve as control knobs to direct materials to specific actions.
A team led by University of Oregon archaeologist Douglas J. Kennett found shock-synthesized hexagonal diamonds in 12,900-year-old sediments on the Northern Channel Islands. The discovery suggests a significant cosmic impact during Clovis time and matches the extinction of multiple species.
Researchers found that adolescents show more activity in neural networks tied to social cognition and self-perception when asked about themselves compared to adults. This suggests that adolescent self-appraisals depend heavily on others' opinions, particularly peers.
University of Oregon physicists have developed a technique to slow down mechanical fluctuations in optomechanical oscillators, reducing phonon excitations to near 40 quanta. The goal is to reach the quantum mechanical ground state with minimal excitation, enabling precise nanotechnology measurements.
Researchers from the University of Oregon and University of California, Davis, have identified a locking mechanism that allows neurons to form synapses, essential for transmitting information. This discovery sheds light on autism development, a brain disorder affecting social and communication abilities.
Integrative body-mind training (IBMT) alters blood flow and electrical activity in the brain, breathing quality, and even skin conductance, allowing for a state of relaxation, calmness, and reduced stress. IBMT improves connection between central nervous system structures and promotes integration of brain and body.
Researchers at the University of Oregon have developed a new method to isolate RNA from specific cells using a chemically modified gene from Toxoplasma gondii. This approach allows for precise study of gene expression and cellular differences, opening up new avenues for research in development, neurobiology, and disease studies.
Researchers at the University of Oregon have identified a key mechanism by which an enzyme (aPKC) directs the fate of daughter cells in stem cell divisions. This simpler process, rather than a long cascade of events, helps determine the fates of subsequent cells.
A University of Oregon professor has developed a Green Classroom Toolbox to improve energy efficiency in existing US schools. The toolbox provides evidence-based renovation guidelines that consider both human performance and environmental impacts, aiming to enhance student learning.
The University of Oregon's GEMs database has doubled in size, now featuring over 100 items on green chemistry strategies across various disciplines. The database allows educators to search by concept and contribute to threaded discussions, capturing the iterative process of greening laboratory activities.