News on research labs and their facilities. Covers lunar research sites, national-lab partnerships, obesity classification, and cloud-lab funding.
Researchers propose alternative explanation for increase in skates and dogfish populations, suggesting migration from connected waters. This hypothesis challenges current management approach, emphasizing ecosystem-based fisheries management.
New research by UT Knoxville professor Michael R. Nash aims to bridge the gap between laboratory research and clinical practice in psychotherapy. By tracking patients' symptoms before and during treatment, psychologists can conduct sound scientifically grounded case studies out of their office.
Researchers at UCL and the London Centre for Nanotechnology will investigate nanostructured carbon-based materials for hydrogen storage and develop large-surface organic solar cells. The refurbished laboratory aims to improve energy efficiency and reduce carbon emissions.
Cold Spring Harbor Protocols highlights two RNA-based methods for understanding developmental processes in plants and flies. The first method uses RNAi to investigate gene function in fruit flies, while the second protocol describes how to detect where and when a gene is expressed in young plant tissues.
Researchers used laboratory experiments and calculations to understand how thin tendrils of magma can persist in roiling fluids, forming hotspot volcanism. The study applies to both small-scale and large-scale geological features, providing insights into Earth's interior dynamics.
Automated electronic medical laboratory reporting (ELR) significantly improves the completeness and timeliness of disease surveillance, allowing for earlier intervention in disease spread. The study found that ELR findings are automatically transmitted in real-time, reducing the reliance on traditional paper reports.
The Rutgers University Wireless Information Networking Laboratory has established a unique facility for testing new mobile computing and communications technologies. The ORBIT Open Access Radio Grid Testbed features a 400-node programmable radio transceiver emulation laboratory and an outdoor field trial system.
A study suggests that geophagy, or deliberate soil ingestion, may enhance the pharmacological properties of plants eaten by chimpanzees. The research found that mixing soil with plant parts increased their anti-malarial activity. Geophagy has been observed in other animals and has implications for conservation and human health.
The experimental weight loss drug, taranabant, has been shown to induce significant weight loss in obese patients, even at low doses. The drug blocks cannabinoid receptors in the brain, leading to a decrease in appetite and increased energy expenditure.
A recent study by Smithsonian researchers reveals that natural blue diamonds exhibit phosphorescence with components of both blue and red light. The study's findings provide a unique 'fingerprint' for individual blue diamonds, enabling scientists to identify them.
Cold Spring Harbor Protocols features methods to observe protein dynamics, including inserting lac operator sequences into mammalian cells and performing immunohistochemistry in whole mouse embryos. These techniques allow researchers to examine chromatin structure and protein activity during replication and transcription.
The GLAST satellite, a gamma-ray telescope, has arrived at the Naval Research Laboratory in Washington for testing before its launch later in 2008. The mission will study extreme environments in the universe, identifying unknown sources of gamma rays.
The new NIST program will ensure that accredited laboratories perform tests on personal body armor in a reliable manner, reducing the risk of inaccurate or ineffective protection. Laboratories must submit applications and complete an assay process to demonstrate proficiency before receiving accreditation.
A team of Ames Laboratory scientists has offered a new model explaining the structure and function of proton exchange membranes in fuel cells. The model proposes a network of densely packed, parallel cylindrical water channels that help explain how water and protons diffuse through the membrane.
Researchers at MIT have developed a system that uses beams of light to sort cells, allowing for precise separation based on specific cell characteristics. This technology could enable genetic screening, clinical testing, and cloning research with increased efficiency and reduced costs.
Researchers have developed a new therapy for protein-losing enteropathy (PLE), a devastating condition that affects children after Fontan surgery. The treatment uses a heparin analog that prevents protein leakage without causing severe side effects, offering a safer alternative to current treatments.
Researchers developed an unmanned seaplane, dubbed 'Flying Fish,' that can initiate and perform its own takeoffs and landings on water. The autonomous craft features a 7-foot wingspan and is designed for the Department of Defense's persistent ocean surveillance program.
Two new protocols are introduced to examine critical stages of early embryogenesis using fluorescently tagged cells. These methods enable the visualization of subtle movements of individual cells during embryo development. Researchers can use these techniques to investigate mechanisms of brain and heart development in birds.
The new protocol allows scientists to identify cell-cycle stages and analyze cell growth in mixed populations. It has been used to characterize immune cells in human blood, providing insight into their activity patterns.
Researchers at the National Physical Laboratory are working towards a redefinition of the kilogram, which could shift from a physical object to a fundamental physical constant. The goal is to improve accuracy and consistency in measurements, but current results show a significant discrepancy with previous data.
The University of Minnesota is building a new international physics laboratory near Ash River, Minn., to study neutrinos and their role in the Universe's formation and future development. The $45.6 million lab will be part of an estimated $250 million project funded by the Department of Energy.
A NASA satellite has captured the first-ever images of a comet's plasma tail detaching from Encke's comet due to a coronal mass ejection. The event was triggered by magnetic reconnection between the comet's and solar wind fields, releasing a burst of energy that detached the tail.
Researchers developed two new southernpeas, WhipperSnapper and GreenPack-DG, with improved characteristics. These peas offer nutrient-rich benefits, pleasing textures, and attractive colors, making them suitable for various applications, including fresh consumption and processing into frozen pea products.
The A. Alfred Taubman Medical Research Institute supports fundamental research to advance understanding of human diseases. The institute's first five Taubman Scholars will receive flexible grants for promising disease-fighting research.
Researchers found that selective attention increases both neural gain and feature selectivity of the human auditory cortex. The study used electroencephalographic event-related potentials to measure task performance in healthy volunteers, revealing a complementary mechanism to existing explanations.
Researchers demonstrated a direct link between mercury concentrations in fish and changes in atmospheric deposition, revealing rapid responses over the first three years of study. The study's results show the benefits of regulating mercury emissions and near-term effectiveness of emission reductions.
Researchers have developed a protocol for generating mice with squamous cell carcinoma, allowing them to study the disease in a controlled environment. The method involves injecting mice with DMBA and TPA, leading to tumor formation and enabling scientists to examine the role of the immune system in susceptibility to skin cancer.
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has rejected a petition calling for strengthened standards for genetic testing laboratories, citing cost concerns. The decision prioritizes affordability over patient safety, despite reports of laboratory errors and inadequate proficiency testing.
Money illusion refers to the phenomenon where people base their decisions on nominal values rather than real value, leading to irrational behavior in markets. Experimental evidence shows that firms are reluctant to cut prices during deflation due to money illusion, but more willing to increase prices during inflation.
Dr. Susana Martinez-Conde and her team will record neural activity in the brain's visual areas to understand why images appear stable during fixation. They aim to determine at what level of the brain visual perception becomes stable, shedding light on this critical aspect of our visual experience.
NCAR has added a powerful BlueGene/L system to the TeraGrid, providing up to 4.5 million processor-hours of computing power annually. This enhances the nation's comprehensive infrastructure for open scientific research, increasing the TeraGrid's total computing capability and data storage.
Researchers at Purdue University have developed a technique to precisely control the spectral properties of ultrafast light pulses, enabling the creation of advanced optical sensors for detecting hazardous materials and pollutants. The technique, called optical arbitrary waveform generation, also has potential applications in ultra-sen...
A cost-effective approach for generating siRNA molecules, called esiRNAs, is described in the article. This method allows scientists to efficiently target virtually any gene in mammalian cells, enabling large-scale studies of gene function.
Researchers found that the genetic variation in laboratory mice is vastly greater than previously thought, with 8.3 million variations described. The pedigrees of the 15 mouse strains studied differ from each other to a far greater degree than previously assumed.
The University of Leeds is joining forces with leading Chinese scientists in membrane and neurobiology to enhance research outputs and international profiles. The partnership aims to collaborate on studies focusing on ion channels, membrane transporters, and the flow of membranes between cellular compartments.
NIST researchers evaluated prototype two-way translation systems in laboratory and outdoor tests with English-speaking U.S. Marines and Iraqi Arabic speakers. The TRANSTAC program focuses on English and Iraqi Arabic translation capabilities, aiming to improve field translators and enable real-time communication in critical situations.
Researchers at the Midwest Forensics Resource Center are developing a library of forensic ink profiles using Direct Analysis in Real Time (DART) mass spectrometry. The new technique allows for faster and more detailed analysis of inks, enabling forensic scientists to differentiate between inks like never before.
The journal highlights two articles on cutting-edge bioinformatics software programs, including a user's guide to BLAST and a computational pipeline for identifying DNA variants. These tools enable biologists to analyze large-scale data, infer gene functions, and identify disease predictors.
Researchers at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory cloned the band gene, finding it's an allele of ras-1, which plays a crucial role in circadian rhythms. The study uses Neurospora crassa as a model organism, demonstrating how a dominant point mutation in ras-1 affects circadian growth cycles.
A new study reveals that raising chimpanzees in a human cultural environment enhances their cognitive abilities, particularly in understanding how tools work. The researchers found that enculturated chimpanzees excelled in using rakes to retrieve rewards, demonstrating a deeper understanding of tool functionality.
A study has identified a common gene, GAB2, that appears to increase a person's risk for developing Alzheimer's disease. The researchers found that the healthy form of the GAB2 gene may protect brain cells from developing tangles, a hallmark of Alzheimer's disease.
The California Institute for Regenerative Medicine awarded $3.79 million to the Burnham Institute for the development of a shared laboratory and expansion of its training courses in human embryonic stem cell research. This funding will support the Institute's partner institutes and researchers, including those at the San Diego Consorti...
A $1.7 million grant will help improve and standardize hormone measurements, specifically testosterone, among laboratories nationwide. The project aims to better diagnose and manage hormone-related diseases like hypogonadism in men.
Cornell researchers identified a dozen triterpenoids in apple peel with potent anti-proliferative activities against human liver, colon, and breast cancer cells. The compounds may be responsible for the anti-cancer properties of whole apples.
Dr. David Serreze receives JDRF's Grodsky award for his outstanding contributions to the study of diabetic immunology. The award recognizes his leadership and innovation in accelerating the pace of diabetes research.
Researchers created a dynamic model to understand cellular signaling pathways in C. elegans, revealing gaps in current understanding and potential for future exploration of biological systems. The model can predict how cells respond to gene mutations and signals, saving laboratory time and resources.
A study by Queensland University of Technology found that droplets carrying viruses can travel large distances in the air, posing a risk to people breathing nearby. The research dispels the myth that viruses only travel a short distance from a person, suggesting that one infected individual can spread the virus simply by exhaling.
A RAND Corporation report found mixed results from laboratory tests of Save the World Air's ZEFS device, suggesting its effectiveness in reducing tailpipe pollutants and increasing fuel efficiency is uncertain. Further testing is needed to confirm or refute the technology's performance.
Researchers are developing a new type of particle accelerator that could lead to more effective cancer treatment, greener electricity, and reduced nuclear waste. The CONFORM* project aims to build a non-scaling fixed field alternating gradient (NS-FFAG) accelerator, which has the potential to be used in medical applications, renewable ...
A study by Mayo Clinic found that adalimumab is an effective treatment for adults with Crohn’s disease who do not respond to infliximab therapy. The therapy was shown to achieve remission in 21% of patients and improve symptoms in 52%.
Scientists develop methods to mark genes and proteins using stable isotopes and fluorescent markers, enabling the tracking of metabolic shifts and chromosomal abnormalities. These methods provide valuable tools for understanding biological processes and diseases such as Down syndrome and cancer.
A study by Dr. Irene Davis shows that biofeedback on abnormal mechanics can lower the risk of stress fractures and pain under the kneecap in runners. By retraining runners to change their faulty gaits, Dr. Davis reduced leg shock by 50% and completely eliminated pain under the kneecap in most participants.
A study by Columbia's Primate Cognition Laboratory found that monkeys can acquire meta-cognitive skills, reflecting on their thought process and assessing performance. This ability has far-reaching implications for understanding cognitive development in infants and autistic children.
A new study suggests that antibiotic therapy for diabetic foot infections can be predicted using specific laboratory and clinical tests. The study found that deep wounds or high white blood cell counts significantly increased the risk of bad outcomes.
Shirley J. Dyke successfully tested wireless sensors in a simulated structural control setting, demonstrating their potential to reduce damage from earthquakes. The technology has the potential to enable less manpower requirements and far less remodeling of existing structures.
A new study found that doctors are treating patients with early symptoms of a heart attack with the same level of urgency as those with later-confirmed cases. This suggests that doctors are using alternative data sources, such as patient history and electrocardiogram results, to make treatment decisions.
Researchers identified a candidate gene called DARC that may underlie differences in bone density between African-Americans and Caucasians. The study found that the DARC gene negatively regulates bone density in mice, and inhibiting its function could lead to therapies for osteoporosis.
The Structural Genomics Consortium has determined the 3D structure of PARP3, a protein of significant relevance to diseases such as cancer, inflammation, and metabolic disorders. The available data can accelerate early-phase drug development projects and contribute to a better understanding of disease mechanisms.
Researchers Twan Gielen designed a simulation programme to study the interactions between oil and water in a controlled environment. The model shows how capillary pressure affects oil and water movement, providing insights into contaminated groundwater behaviour.
Researchers at École Polytechnique de Montréal have successfully guided a microdevice inside an artery using computer control and a clinical MRI system. The breakthrough could enable interventional medicine to target inaccessible sites using nanorobots.