News on research labs and their facilities. Covers lunar research sites, national-lab partnerships, obesity classification, and cloud-lab funding.
JASON II, a $2.5 million project, begins science operations with enhanced manipulative, sampling, thrust and payload capabilities. The system allows researchers to work in new ways, increasing productivity and enabling real-time analysis of ocean floor data.
The REGARDS study aims to identify known and unknown risk factors for stroke among African Americans, who face a higher mortality rate compared to whites. UVM's laboratory will analyze blood samples from 30,000 participants, providing a biological specimen bank for future research.
A study published in Nature has identified a gene that protects certain brain and retinal neurons from oxidative stress, leading to neurodegeneration. The research, led by Dr. Susan Ackerman, found that mice with a mutation in the Aif gene experience severe oxidative stress, causing neuronal death.
Researchers found that stressed carp are easily infected by the single cell parasite Trypanoplasma borreli due to high levels of cortisol. The study revealed that cortisol inhibits crucial proteins that protect fish from parasites, rendering them more susceptible to infection.
The collaboration aims to improve genetics education in Singapore, utilizing expertise from the DNALC and Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory. The Ministry of Education will establish infrastructure, develop curricula, and provide teacher training, while the DNALC will share award-winning educational tools.
Mayo Clinic researchers have discovered a way to use autoclave sterilization procedures in laboratory settings to detect and confirm the identity of smallpox virus and other bioterrorism agents. This innovation enables local laboratories to conduct rapid tests, reducing the time needed to respond to potential attacks.
Researchers from Cornell University deployed acoustic recording units to capture sounds from the Pearl River drainage, but found no indication of the ivory-billed woodpecker's presence. The technology may provide conclusive evidence on future sound recordings.
A multidisciplinary team at Abbott Laboratories developed an innovative process to produce the protease inhibitor ritonavir, leading to the discovery of next-generation protease inhibitor lopinavir. This breakthrough has improved HIV/AIDS treatment outcomes and saved thousands of lives in the US.
Two studies found high discordance between local laboratory tests and central testing facilities, raising concerns about patient eligibility for trastuzumab trials. These discrepancies could lead to unnecessary costs and cardiotoxicity. Trials have since modified their criteria to require central laboratory testing to confirm HER2 status.
MERBoards will provide a new tool to support collaborative processes in Mars Surface Operations, enhancing mission operations with interactive displays and annotation capabilities.
A new peptide developed by researchers at Yale University has shown promise in promoting new growth in injured spinal cords. The study confirmed that a molecule called Nogo blocks axon regeneration, but also demonstrated how to block its action with the peptide, allowing nerve fibers to grow back and restoring mobility to laboratory rats.
A new method by USF researchers can detect anthrax spores in under 8 hours, reducing turnaround time from days. This breakthrough enables more laboratories to test samples, alleviating backlog and anxiety caused by long wait times.
A damaged DNA synthesis enzyme has been shown to cause progressive muscle weakening in a rare eye condition. The researchers found that the faulty enzyme makes errors ten-fold more frequently than healthy individuals, leading to accumulation of mistakes and muscle degeneration.
Researchers found laboratory testing combined with physical exams significantly helps identify internal abdominal injuries in children. Missed abdominal injuries are a major cause of preventable death and disability.
Research by Dr. Patricia Molina's team found that alcohol intoxication severely impairs the brain's ability to restore normal blood pressure after a small blood loss, leading to delayed recovery and increased risk of infection in trauma patients. This finding has significant implications for treating intoxicated trauma victims.
The new Bethesda System aims to improve cervical cancer detection by providing more uniform, evidence-based care. Key changes include a new term for atypical cells at higher risk of precancer and clearer identification of benign cellular changes.
Researchers found that high protein diets led to decreased hydration levels and abnormal kidney function tests. The study suggests that athletes and non-athletes alike should increase fluid intake when consuming high protein diets.
The PSU/ARL monitor uses advanced signal processing, data fusion, and automated reasoning to estimate working time, physical condition, and causes of failure. It takes into account the physical changes in batteries, such as electrode surfaces and internal processes.
Researchers found that boosting PKM levels in fruit flies improves memory retention, contradicting previous understanding of memory fade. The discovery sheds light on the process of synaptic tagging during memory formation and has significant implications for our understanding of neural mechanisms.
The project aims to develop a 'Field-Portable Chip-Based Anti-Terrorism Microanalyzer' using 'laboratory on a chip' technology. This device will enable immediate detection of terrorist agents, benefiting first responders such as firefighters, police, and paramedics.
Researchers David Jiles and John Snyder will focus on mechanisms of clean, multi-element film growth and structuring of films at the atomistic to nano-length scale. Thin-films could replace semiconductor technology for nonvolatile computer RAM, boosting data storage capacity by 10-50 times.
A portable ultrasound device has been developed to detect neck artery blockages with high accuracy. The device takes only 8.8 minutes to perform a comprehensive examination, compared to 30 minutes or longer for standard laboratory ultrasounds.
Researchers at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory have developed a new technique for carrying out genetic analysis directly in mammalian cells, enabling them to switch off or switch on genes in mouse cells. This ability allows researchers to infer gene function, identify potential cancer therapies, and discover new properties in cells.
A new technology uses high definition thermal imaging to detect lying by measuring heat patterns on the face, which change dramatically when a person is deceptive. Clinical trials have shown an accuracy rate of 83% in detecting deception.
Research suggests that trauma survivors often underestimate their sleep quality and overestimate their sleep time. Studies have found that with proper treatments like progressive muscle relaxation and stimulus control, traumatic memories can be left behind without impacting sleep., Timely treatment of sleep disorders may prevent PTSD o...
A unique partnership between Imperial College London and the International AIDS Vaccine Initiative aims to combat the HIV epidemic. The laboratory will evaluate work from worldwide HIV/AIDS vaccine trials, promoting standardization and facilitating the development of effective vaccines.
Researchers at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory found that altering nitric oxide levels in developing tadpoles significantly affects brain size and cell number. Nitric oxide signals cells to stop proliferating, enabling specialization into distinct types.
The NRL's Humvee-based communications system can provide two-way satellite commercial links and a private cellular telephone network. It can also handle streaming video, making it an essential tool for emergency response teams.
Nuclear quadrupole resonance (NQR) uses low frequency radio waves to detect explosives and narcotics. The technique is effective for land mine detection, as it targets the explosives within the mine.
A new computer diagnostic program has been developed to help physicians diagnose rare infectious diseases. The database contains information on 223 infectious and parasitic diseases common to animals and humans.
Professor Terrill Cool's research uses flame-sampling photoionization mass spectrometry to detect key-reaction intermediates in laboratory flames. The new facility will produce average photon fluxes 100 times larger than current sources, enabling more accurate predictive models of combustion kinetics.
A new protein called Fbw7 has been found to control cyclin E levels in cells, which is associated with cancer progression. The study suggests that the absence of Fbw7 in breast cancer-derived cell cultures may indicate a tumor suppressor gene, suggesting its potential role in preventing malignant change.
Researchers at Penn State investigated alternative diesel fuel DME, which burns smokeless and produces fewer particulates. The team found that DME can mix completely with diesel fuel but its viscosity may be a key property in developing these fuels.
University of North Carolina chemist Michael T. Crimmins wins national award for developing laboratory methods to create compounds with anti-tumor activity and potential health benefits. His team successfully synthesized a chemical from the gingko tree called gingkolide B, which may also delay Alzheimer's disease onset.
The Frontiers in Physiology program provides laboratory research experience to middle- and high-school-level teachers, learning effective education strategies and sharing experiences. Teachers participate in experiments, such as studying Siamese Fighting Fish behavior and exploring factors affecting blood flow and pressure.
The Ecological Society of America honored outstanding researchers with awards, including the Murray F. Buell Award to Jennifer Klug and David Lytle, and the W. S. Cooper Award to Thomas Swetnam and Julio Betancourt for their work on climate variability in the American Southwest.
A study published in Clinical Chemistry explores the connection between metabolic abnormalities and SIDS, highlighting a potential standard protocol for medical examiners. MS/MS testing of infant and child deaths may help explain SIDS cases, offering new insights into this leading cause of childhood death.
Researchers at the Savannah River Ecology Laboratory have successfully developed a compound that aids in the extraction of certain underground contaminants, including lead. The new chemical compound targets specific reactive fractions of the soil and can be used in pump-and-treat extraction methods to enhance removal efficiency.
Researchers at UIC successfully synthesized the rare molecule laulimalide, a potent anticancer compound with potential to surpass existing cancer drug Taxol. The stepwise synthesis allows for control of stereochemistry, enabling testing of variants with enhanced antitumor activity.
The Jackson Laboratory has received a $14 million NIH grant to create a center for mouse models of heart, lung, blood and sleep disorders. The center aims to develop new models and databases for biomedical researchers worldwide, as well as advance understanding of genetic mechanisms underlying healthy function and diseases.
Dr. Steven D. Douglas, a leading expert in immunology, has been recognized with the Erwin Neter Award for his groundbreaking research on innate immunity and disease. He has developed several major diagnostic tests used globally and is a leader in the Pediatric AIDS Clinical Trials Group.
The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill has launched a new traveling science laboratory that brings state-of-the-art equipment and teaching tools to North Carolina schools lacking resources. The bus features equipment for wet lab experiments, Internet exploration, and curriculum materials.
Researchers at Cornell University have developed a standard spectrum of smell to identify individuals with specific anosmia, which can distort data in sensory research labs. The new approach uses gas chromatography olfactometry to categorize people into three sensitivity levels: hyperosmic, hyposmic, and anosmic.
A newly discovered quasar has surpassed the previous record holder as the earliest known structure in the universe, with a red shift of 5.50 and light journeying 13 billion years to reach Earth. The quasar's discovery sheds light on cosmic evolution and matter distribution at earlier stages of history.
A team at the Naval Research Laboratory has successfully demonstrated room-temperature operation of an interband III-V laser diode emitting at a wavelength beyond three microns. This achievement brings gallium-antimony-based technology closer to practical and portable mid-infrared systems needed for military and commercial applications.
Researchers at The Jackson Laboratory have identified a chromosomal region that interacts with the tub mutation to prevent deafness in the tubby mouse model. The region, known as moth1, maps to mouse Chromosome 2 and was found to protect C57BL/6J mice from hearing loss.
The Howard Hughes Medical Institute has awarded $1.32 million to Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory to support advanced courses in molecular biology, neuroscience, and structural biology. The institution will also construct a new teaching laboratory and provide scholarships for scientists worldwide.
The Office of Naval Research has developed proprietary technology to improve hearing protection devices for service personnel exposed to high-level noise. The composite material absorbs acoustical energy more effectively, resulting in better-fitting and more effective ear-protection devices.
The University of Georgia and the Ukrainian government have signed an agreement to establish a permanent International Radioecology Laboratory in Chornobyl, Ukraine. The laboratory will focus on studying the biological and ecological impacts of radioactive fallout from the 1986 nuclear accident.
A permanent international radioecology laboratory was established in Chernobyl to study the effects of radiation on wildlife and ecosystems. The lab aims to dispel myths about life in radioactive environments, revealing a thriving ecosystem with subtle yet significant impacts.
Researchers have found a new class of isotope fractionation effects that violate the simple rule of mass dependency. The discovery was made in an effort to explain anomalous excesses of oxygen-17 in atmospheric CO, which has been observed at various air monitoring stations.
Research at The Jackson Laboratory reveals the Lunatic fringe gene's essential role in regulating somite formation during embryonic development. Notch signaling pathway disruption leads to segmental body plan implementation challenges in mammals and other organisms.
William E. Paul, a prominent NIH AIDS researcher, has been awarded the 1998 Abbott Laboratories Award in Clinical and Diagnostic Immunology. He made significant contributions to understanding cytokine biology, T-cell reproduction, and B-cell activation.
Researchers have synthesized the major human metabolite of Taxol, 6-alpha-hydroxypaclitaxel, for the first time in a laboratory setting. This breakthrough will enable easier identification and quantification of the metabolite in complex mixtures, crucial for maximizing the clinical effectiveness of paclitaxel.
The Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory will apply its advanced laser technology to monitor the characteristics of synthetic fibers during manufacturing. This will enable real-time process adjustments, reducing production time and costs. The project aims to significantly improve fiber properties measurement and production efficiency.
Researchers found that using rapid diagnostic methods for M. tuberculosis can decrease diagnosis time from 38.5 to 23 days, time to therapy from 6.6 to 2.0 days, and mortality by 22-33%. This also reduces healthcare costs per patient.
A new mouse model, swe mice, has been identified by researchers at Jackson Laboratory with a defect in the Nhe1 gene. The mice exhibit both petit mal and grand mal seizures, similar to human absence and convulsive epilepsy, making it a promising authentic model for studying human absence epilepsy.
Researchers have identified a new source of sulforaphane, a compound that helps mobilize the body's natural cancer-fighting resources and reduces cancer risk. Studies show that consuming broccoli sprouts daily may provide similar chemoprotection as eating large amounts of mature broccoli weekly.
Scientists have developed techniques to directly image the deformation of materials like diamond under ultrahigh pressures, showing that it can bend without failing. The results suggest ways to improve high-pressure techniques and reveal enhanced material strength at extreme pressures.
The BirdSource website enables citizens to share their bird-watching observations, creating a comprehensive database of North American bird distribution, migratory pathways, and population trends. This initiative leverages citizen-science data from programs like FeederWatch and the Christmas Bird Counts.