Articles tagged with Postdoctoral Work
Researchers found that individual receptive fields have irregular shapes but interlock to form a regular lattice, enabling high-resolution vision. The nervous system operates with higher precision than previously thought, overcoming potential problems with uneven visual coverage.
A Stanford study reveals that HLA molecules, crucial for immune function, also contribute to brain circuits involved in learning and memory. The absence of these molecules can enhance motor learning but may compromise other learning abilities.
Whitehead Institute member Peter Reddien has been awarded an Early Career Scientist position by the Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI), providing him with a six-year funded research program. He will investigate regeneration in planaria flatworms, a project that aligns with HHMI's goals to support innovative and creative science.
The Nancy Lurie Marks Clinical and Research Fellowship Program in Autism will support HMS faculty and students interested in autism research over six years. The program will fund basic and clinical research in various fields, including genetics and neuroscience.
A Brown University-led team has documented the unique landing approaches of three bat species, including a tree-roosting bat that executes a four-point landing and two cave-roosting bats that perform a two-point landing. The study sheds new light on how bats evolved and could provide insights into their widespread success.
Researchers use single-molecule fluorescence resonance energy transfer to observe alpha-synuclein proteins changing shape in response to different binding partners, revealing unprecedented twists and turns. This ability could play a significant role in regulating disease-related aggregates.
The new technology uses self-replicating RNA molecules to detect specific chemicals, allowing for precise measurements of drugs, toxins, and other substances. This method has the potential to revolutionize fields such as medicine, environmental monitoring, and molecular computing.
Researchers found a new way to control water behavior by confining it to narrow spaces, leading to the discovery of an 'ice sandwich' phase consisting of mobile water between two layers of frozen water. This breakthrough could advance scientific endeavors in energy sources, pharmaceuticals, and self-cleaning surfaces.
Researchers at Scripps Research Institute identify a mutation in the Mbtps1 gene that increases susceptibility to inflammatory bowel disease. The study reveals how the mutated gene disrupts the unfolded protein response, leading to cellular stress and inflammation.
Michigan State University's NSF-funded Faculty Institutes for Reforming Science Teaching will train 200 postdoctoral researchers to teach scientifically. The program aims to equip future college professors with skills for teaching science effectively, using inquiry-based learning and promoting scientific literacy.
The discovery of a 47.5 million-year-old fossil whale in Pakistan provides evidence that early whales gave birth on land, contrary to the long-held assumption that they gave birth at sea. The fossils reveal that these ancient whales had well-developed teeth and could fend for themselves from an early age.
Dr Catherine Jopling has received a prestigious David Phillips fellowship to investigate the molecular biology of hepatitis C virus. The £1m funding will support her work on miR-122, a specialized liver microRNA that interacts with HCV in an unusual way.
Researchers have identified two new classes of chemicals that can be used to study and possibly manipulate a cellular pathway involved in many types of cancer and degenerative diseases. These compounds target the Wnt protein pathway, which plays a crucial role in embryonic development and tissue maintenance.
Researchers at Cornell University discovered that male and female mosquitoes (Aedes aegypti) create a harmonic duet just before mating. The frequency of this duet is approximately 400-600 hertz for the female and 600-1200 hertz for the male, significantly above previously thought limits.
Researchers at Scripps Research Institute have identified a single molecule, dynamin, that forms a short collar around emerging membrane fragments and squeezes them tight to separate new vesicles. This process is crucial for cellular endocytosis and may be ubiquitous throughout the cell.
Researchers have established a novel human stem cell-based model of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), confirming that dysfunctional astrocytes can kill off healthy motor neurons. Treating the cultured cells with apocynin, an anti-oxidant, staved off motor neuron death caused by malfunctioning astrocytes.
Julia Bailey-Serres and her collaborators have developed flood-tolerant rice varieties that can recover after prolonged submergence, improving crop yields in flood-prone areas. The new rice varieties, already passed field tests in Bangladesh and India, will be made available to smallholder farmers within two years.
The Genomics Education Partnership (GEP) has expanded its research-based undergraduate course beyond Washington University, reaching students at historically black and Hispanic-serving institutions. Students work with in silico tools to analyze DNA sequence data, improving their understanding of genomics and its applications.
Researchers at MIT have developed a new method for boosting the efficiency of solar photovoltaic cells by up to 50%. By applying antireflection coatings and complex reflective layer designs, they were able to increase the energy conversion rate. This breakthrough has significant implications for the future of renewable energy and could...
Scripps researchers develop first definitive study of 2-AG's activity after discovering MAGL-specific inhibitor JZL184, reducing pain in mice and inducing effects associated with cannabinoid receptors. This breakthrough could lead to new treatments for chronic pain, obesity, anxiety, and depression.
The program aims to develop advanced statistical methodologies for implementing USDA surveys and analyzing survey results. Four focus areas have been identified: multivariate imputation, new design and estimation methodologies, automated editing and imputation methods, and statistical multi-source predictive models.
Researchers discovered that Cdk5 protein stimulates stem-cell maturation but also causes neurodegenerative diseases. Removing Cdk5 from immature nerve cells promotes normal cell division, but the cells never reach maturity. The 'Mr. Hyde' component of Cdk5 causes destructive effects on motor coordination and learning.
Researchers discovered how a virus suppresses the immune system in mice, allowing it to persist and cause disease. The study's findings could lead to new treatments for immunosuppressive diseases like HIV and measles by targeting the interferon response.
The Scripps Research Institute has solved the 3-D structure of Senecavirus, a viral genus that infects solid tumors such as small cell lung cancer. The unique virus shape and RNA arrangement reveal potential binding sites to cancer cells, paving the way for improved therapeutic applications.
Research at Vanderbilt University found that musicians exhibit greater divergent thinking and bilateral brain activity compared to non-musicians. Musicians' enhanced creativity was linked to their ability to integrate competing information from both hemispheres, facilitating innovative solutions.
Researchers found a specific form of the PNPLA3 gene linked to higher liver-fat content and increased risk of liver inflammation. Hispanics are more likely to carry this gene variant than African-Americans and Caucasians, highlighting a genetic explanation for ethnic disparities in fatty liver disease.
The partnership aims to build excellent career pathways for scientists working in basic biomedical, clinical and veterinary research in India. The programme will award fellowships to support researchers from newly-qualified postdocs through to senior researchers.
Researchers at Iowa State University have contributed to the release of the annotated genome of Meloidogyne incognita, a destructive nematode responsible for $157 billion in agricultural damage annually. The sequencing achievement provides a resource for understanding and controlling this widespread pest.
Researchers at Salk Institute discover a master switch in the brain that controls both appetite and fertility. Variations in the TORC1 gene may contribute to obesity and infertility, and could be regulated with a novel drug. The study also reveals that leptin plays a crucial role in regulating these processes.
Brandeis scientists have identified a catalyst that efficiently breaks the carbon-fluorine bond, rendering it harmless to the environment. This breakthrough finding could lead to large-scale reactions to convert environmental pollutants into reusable or destroyable products.
Researchers found that interferon-alpha plays a key role in the onset of type 1 diabetes by triggering an immune response that destroys pancreatic beta cells. This discovery could provide new insights into the disease and potentially lead to new treatments.
Researchers have traced the origin of Tahitian vanilla to tropical forests of Guatemala, where it began as a pre-Columbian Maya cultivar. The team used genetic analysis to confirm that Tahitian vanilla is a hybrid offspring between two native species in Central America.
Researchers at UT Southwestern Medical Center found that miR-126 is essential for creating new vessels in developing embryos and repair of injured blood vessels. However, its role in maintaining established vascular systems is unclear.
Researchers at the Salk Institute have identified two signaling pathways activated in response to exercise that converge to increase endurance. They discovered a drug, GW1516, that simultaneously triggers both pathways, turning laboratory mice into long-distance runners and conferring many exercise benefits.
Researchers at UC Davis have created smart contact lenses that can measure eye pressure and dispense medication. These contact lenses, made with a new material, could help doctors better understand glaucoma and improve patient treatment.
Researchers at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute have discovered a method to induce, suppress 'branching' of nanorods using biomolecules. The new technique could lead to the development of smaller, more powerful heat pumps and devices that harness electricity from heat.
An interdisciplinary team used computational methods to study myoglobin's structure and function, revealing that oxygen follows two pathways with branches, mainly through alpha helices. The simulations showed ligand migration is local and short-lived, and occurs between protein scaffolds.
Dr. Mariana Pereira has been awarded a $60,000 grant from NARSAD to continue her preclinical studies on the effects of postpartum stress on substance abuse in women. Her research aims to understand how cocaine hijacks normal motivational patterns in the postpartum female.
A Virginia Tech research group has isolated proteins responsible for iron-sulfur cluster assembly and witnessed their interactions within a cell. This breakthrough provides insight into the sequential steps of the process, helping to explain how molecules are synthesized and distributed in cells.
The Greenland Ice Sheet's melting rate is accelerating, with projected fresh water flow into the North Atlantic Ocean increasing from 438 cubic kilometers to 650 cubic kilometers by 2100. This will cause sea levels to rise at a faster rate of 1.6 millimeters per year.
Researchers at UT Southwestern have developed a mouse model that mimics hyperglycemia and allows pancreatic beta-cell regeneration. The PANIC-ATTAC mouse model provides insights into improved treatments for type 1 and gestational diabetes, as well as temporary hyperglycemia.
UT Southwestern faculty members Dr. Lora Hooper, Dr. Youxing Jiang, and Dr. Hongtao Yu were named as Howard Hughes Medical Institute investigators for their outstanding biomedical research. The HHMI appointment brings the total number of UT SWM faculty members to 13.
A sweeping analysis of 77 studies involving over 15,000 subjects found that media exposure to ultra-thin models significantly increased women's concerns about their bodies. The study suggests that the impact is growing stronger over time, contributing to health issues like low self-esteem and obesity.
Research shows that tropical species are more vulnerable to climate change due to their narrow temperature range, making them more susceptible to extinction with warming of just a degree or two. This is because they live near their thermal optimum and cannot cope with temperatures beyond that range.
Ian Appelbaum's $484,370 grant from the US Department of Defense will explore spin transport in silicon to enhance integrated circuit design and speed. His team has previously demonstrated successful electrical spin injection, transport, manipulation, and detection in pioneering research published in top journals.
Researchers at Brown University found that flies live longer when they don't produce germline stem cells, which create eggs and sperm. This suggests a general principle in biology where reproductive signals directly control lifespan and metabolism in the whole organism.
Theoretical physicists discovered that measuring quantum particles causes interference, leading to a 'relaxed' state analogous to classical chaotic scattering. This finding has implications for quantum computing and information theory.
Biologists at Purdue University have determined the structural changes that enable dengue virus to mature and become infectious. The researchers found that the changing acidity plays a vital role in this process, allowing the virus to fuse with cell membranes and infect new host cells.
Kristjan Haule, a Rutgers physicist, has received a $50,000 Sloan Foundation Research Fellowship to develop computer simulations predicting properties of novel materials with layers only a few atoms thick. These materials have the potential to replace traditional semiconducting devices for solar energy conversion.
The Stowers Institute's Workman Lab has characterized a novel histone acetyltransferase protein complex called ATAC, which plays a crucial role in regulating chromosome functions. The study provides insight into the ATAC complex's functions and its potential link to human diseases such as developmental defects and cancers.
Researchers discovered a key connection between signaling pathways and the immune response leading to severe sepsis. Disrupting this cross-talk rescued mice from death due to sepsis, suggesting potential therapeutic intervention. The study provides new insights into sepsis syndrome and its treatment.
The study reveals that white sharks migrate to two distant destinations annually, favoring specific areas along the California coast. Genetic analysis also shows that Pacific Ocean basin populations are genetically distinct, indicating long-term isolation in the Eastern Pacific.
University of Michigan researchers created a new method, OxICAT, to observe how oxidative stress affects proteins. The technique allows for the quantification of thousands of proteins' oxidation states in a single experiment.
A powerful new gene-networking model has been developed to identify disease-causing genes, allowing for faster and more efficient discovery. The technique was tested in nematode worms, where it identified new genes involved in tumor development and extended life span by 55 percent.
A new computer-based tool, eTBLAST, compares multiple documents in a database for similarities, helping to detect duplicate or plagiarized publications. The tool has been shown to identify potential plagiarism cases in over 7,000 papers, and may also aid in detecting duplicated publications.
Scientists at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute created a coating with low-density, vertically-aligned carbon nanotube arrays that absorb more than 99.9 percent of light, making it the darkest material ever made by man. This breakthrough could lead to improved solar energy conversion and detection capabilities.
Researchers reveal a new, tightly regulated layer of the plant transcriptome that is controlled by the exosome complex. The study provides a genome-wide atlas of Arabidopsis exosome targets and sheds light on the mechanisms of RNA quality control in plants.
Researchers at the Salk Institute have discovered a molecular pathway that regulates immune inflammation, known as the TAM receptor tyrosine kinase. The study found that activating this pathway can help control chronic autoimmune diseases such as lupus and rheumatoid arthritis by inhibiting an out-of-control inflammatory response.
Researchers found a 30% increase in tremor activity with rising tides, contradicting assumptions that water would clamp down on the movement. The tremors are likely caused by tidal stresses from gravitational influences of sun and moon.
The Gerontological Society of America has recognized Spero M. Manson and Marcia M. Ory for their significant contributions to fostering excellence in gerontology through mentoring and inspiration. The award is given to individuals who have made a major impact on the field, inspiring students and colleagues alike.