Articles tagged with Basic Research
Philip Benfey has identified a gene that governs how plant cells proliferate and organize to form root systems. The research, published in Cell, has implications for both biology and bioengineering, including improving crop tolerance to salinity and fertilizer reliance.
Researchers have identified a new protein synthesis mechanism at synapses that regulates synaptic strength, leading to long-term memory storage. The study reveals that experience or activity in the mammalian brain can modify individual synapses on an individual basis.
Researchers at Vanderbilt University have designed and constructed a small robotic 'bug' that can scuttle more than half a mile on a single battery charge. The robot, which is about three inches long and weighs two ounces, uses an unusual material called piezoelectric ceramic to achieve its motion.
Researchers create an online library of electronic books using a specialized search tool called WebBook. The tool helps organize information in a database-driven format, making it easier for users to find specific answers.
A study by Jeffrey Mogil, a professor of psychology and neuroscience at the University of Illinois, reveals that genetic differences play a significant role in pain response. The research found that involved genes are different in males and females, leading to varying responses to pain and analgesics.
A recent study by the Massachusetts General Hospital found that young, productive researchers are more likely to be denied access to data and materials. The survey of 2,366 scientists revealed that junior faculty members and those publishing multiple articles were at a higher risk of being withheld from resources.
A University of Michigan-led research team is launching a two-year study to examine whether prisoners of war experience 'post-traumatic growth' after their traumatic experiences. The study aims to determine if POWs develop positive changes in self-perception, interpersonal relationships, and philosophy of life compared to control groups.
Researchers used global transposon mutagenesis to find the minimal set of genes required for Mycoplasma genitalium survival. The study reveals roughly a third of genes are unnecessary, and further work will explain the functions of these remaining genes.
Researchers at UD's Bartol Institute are using a new parallel computing facility to simulate coronal heating, a phenomenon that affects satellites and life on Earth. The simulations provide insights into the fundamental nature of space physics and plasma properties.
A new study by University of Washington researchers reveals that dyslexic children use significantly more brain area and energy while performing simple language tasks. The findings provide new evidence that dyslexia is a brain-based disorder and shed light on its developmental mechanisms.
Armstrong's groundbreaking work elucidated the physical processes underlying electrical signaling in and between cells. His research has contributed significantly to our understanding of ion channels and their role in transmitting nerve impulses, with implications for drug development and treatment of various diseases.
Scientists at Emory University discovered a new family of enzymes linked to abnormal cell growth in cancer and cardiovascular disease. The Mox1 enzyme converts oxygen into reactive oxygen molecules that instruct cells to divide more rapidly.
The INEEL is developing a roadmap for vadose zone management, leveraging expertise from DOE sites, contractors, industry, and universities to enhance timely delivery of products. The goal is sound environmental stewardship through understanding based on defensible science.
Young and old rats show distinct responses to compromised circulation, highlighting the need for age-based treatment for ischemia-reperfusion injuries. Studies reveal that neutrophil accumulation plays a key role in young rats but not older ones.
Bruce Clurman, a researcher at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, has been awarded a $1 million grant to support his medical research. The award, part of the W.M. Keck Foundation's Distinguished Young Scholars in Medical Research Program, will enable Clurman to pursue new ideas and develop new treatments for diseases.
The Rush University Medical Center has launched a new NIH-funded program to train individuals in the fundamentals of clinical research. The program, which includes courses on biostatistics, epidemiology, and research ethics, aims to prepare individuals for careers in clinical research.
A new study by NEC Research Institute reveals that search engines have decreased coverage to 16% of the publicly indexable web, with bias towards popular and commercial sites. The study also found that indexing can take months for new pages, affecting economic viability, scientific progress, and social decisions.
Dutch chemists have developed a liquid containing metal nano-rods that can be regulated electrically to screen out sunlight. The rods' orientation is controlled by an electrical field, affecting light absorption and transmission. This innovative technology holds potential for applications in sunscreens and other devices.
Regular churchgoers live longer than those who seldom or never attend worship services. They can look forward to about seven more years of life beyond age 20. The research also revealed that women and blacks can enjoy especially longer lives if they are religiously active.
Researchers found that epithelial cells contain an anti-virus alarm system which triggers persistent inflammation in asthma. The study challenges the traditional view of asthma as an allergic response and suggests a new approach to treatment.
Scientists at DuPont and the University of Delaware have created inexpensive biosensors that rapidly detect key toxins in poultry feed and environmental contaminants. The researchers used genetically engineered bacteria to create a pre-screening method for identifying potential contaminants, including aflatoxin B1.
The National Patient Safety Foundation has awarded four grants totaling $350,000 to researchers studying various aspects of patient safety, including clinical expertise and drug name confusion errors. The grants aim to reduce preventable healthcare errors and promote patient safety as a distinct field of research.
Researchers found that low SES patients experience worse quality of life after treatment despite aggressive cardiac procedures. They require significant lifestyle changes, physical rehabilitation, and medication management, which can be inaccessible or misunderstood by this group.
Hydralazine improves cell health by decreasing free radicals, a chemical byproduct of normal aerobic activities. The medication has been used for decades to treat high blood pressure and appears to have a positive side effect.
Researchers have identified the gene responsible for Lafora disease, a severe form of epilepsy characterized by seizures and progressive neurological degeneration. The discovery opens up new areas of research into both epilepsy and normal brain function, with potential applications in genetic diagnostics and treatments.
Female Mediterranean fruit flies exhibit two distinct aging patterns when food supply is limited, delaying reproduction until advanced age. Once a complete diet is available, they produce eggs rapidly and age swiftly, suggesting reproduction as a key factor in aging.
The Naval Medical Center in San Diego has successfully tested a technique that restores hearing loss if administered within hours of exposure to loud noise, and can also 'inoculate' users against hearing loss. The technique uses micro-devices to deliver antioxidant pharmaceuticals that protect hypersensitive hair cells.
Researchers confirm reptation theory of polymer behavior, showing hot chains coil back and snap forward, leaving a telltale signature. The study suggests stronger composite materials and welded plastic seams, with potential applications in aircraft, medical devices, and consumer products.
Researchers at the University of Illinois have created a highly symmetrical molecular box with an internal volume of about 132 angstroms, opening new dimensions for host-guest chemistry. The boxes are easily dissolved and can be modified to be negatively or positively charged for future sensing technology applications.
The center will bring together leading cellular and molecular neuroscientists to focus on addiction from an interdisciplinary approach. It aims to understand how addicting drugs act on receptors and disrupt normal communication between nerve cells in the brain, with the ultimate goal of finding new therapeutic approaches for addiction.
The National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS) has awarded $2 million to support 20 grants from the first round of applications. The grants focus on high-impact, high-risk research studies in areas such as cell biology, biophysics, and pharmacology.
Researchers have crystallized the active form of adenylyl cyclase, revealing how Gs-alpha binds to and activates it. This discovery helps understand the regulation of these enzymes, which are crucial for various biochemical processes.
Charles Rick's half-century of research at UC Davis forged a fundamental understanding of tomato genetics. He identified 42 disease-resistance genes and bred them into commercial varieties, benefiting almost every other vegetable crop worldwide.
The grant will support various research projects, including climate modeling, molecular dynamics simulations, and interactive learning tools. Cornell aims to create a national model for universities in the information age with this technology.
Researchers at the University of Georgia and Georgia Tech are conducting X-ray research at Brookhaven National Laboratory to reduce iron and other trace metals in paper-making processes. The goal is to lower costs, reduce water use and environmental discharges in the pulp and paper industry.
Researchers have made a breakthrough in understanding how nutrients and vitamins enter living cells, finding that membrane proteins act like gates to regulate entry and acquire essential molecules. The study reveals dynamic entities capable of sensing their environment and actively acquiring substances needed for cell growth.
Researchers have discovered that different strains of HIV may exploit distinct immune cells through chemokine coreceptors, potentially explaining the sudden collapse of the immune system in full-blown AIDS patients. The findings could lead to new treatments by targeting these receptors.
New HIV treatments and basic research advances offered new weapons against the virus, potentially making it a chronic disease. Other breakthroughs included discoveries about the origin of life, online publishing, and genetic sequencing of yeast.
Researchers at UC Santa Cruz found seismic evidence suggesting a partially molten layer in the lower mantle, which could fundamentally change our understanding of the core-mantle boundary. The suspected layer, between 5-40 kilometers thick, may conduct electricity more readily than solid rock and influence the planet's magnetic field.
Researchers at Ohio State University discovered that introns can move and insert themselves into genes at specific sites, allowing more control over genetic information transfer. This finding has significant implications for genetic therapy and provides insight into the evolution of early organisms.
Researchers at Georgia Institute of Technology have developed a new method to examine and quickly map how nucleic acid ligands bind to and alter DNA at the molecular level. This allows for direct visualization of individual DNA molecules, providing crucial information on drug binding and mode of action.