News from the institutes and societies that organize science. Covers scientific medals, university-hospital partnerships, oncology cooperatives, and society leadership.
Weizmann Institute researchers found that cancer grows faster during the day and is suppressed at night due to hormonal fluctuations. Administering treatments in sync with the body's natural day-night cycle may improve their effectiveness.
The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine recommend best practices for law enforcement agencies and courts to improve the accuracy of eyewitness identifications. Research has shown that factors such as dim lighting, brief viewing times, and biases can influence people's perceptions, leading to mistaken identifications.
A team of scientists has successfully isolated and characterized a crucial chemical intermediate, which was previously only inferred from indirect evidence. The researchers used solid-state characterization and computational modeling to understand the stability factors and design more stable adducts for further study.
New research will focus on understanding and mitigating threats to industrial control systems, including manufacturing plants, power stations, and the rail network. The project aims to provide effective interventions to counter cyber risks and improve risk communication.
Researchers found a unique signature of aging in the choroid plexus, which separates blood from cerebrospinal fluid, and discovered that interferon beta has a negative effect on the brain. Blocking this protein's activity restored cognitive abilities in older mice.
Severe periodontitis is the sixth most prevalent health condition in the world, affecting over 743 million people worldwide. The global age-standardized prevalence of severe periodontitis remained static at 11.2% between 1990 and 2010.
The Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation is partnering with the Population Council on a five-year USAID-funded project to conduct operational HIV research. The Supporting Operational AIDS Research (SOAR) project will produce high-quality evidence to guide HIV prevention, care, and treatment programs worldwide.
A new study found that global sea levels rose at rates of up to 5.5 meters per century at the end of each of the last five ice-age cycles. The research provides a detailed record of sea-level variability over 500,000 years.
Researchers have identified variant straw plants with highly digestible cell walls, paving the way for cost-effective and sustainable biofuels. These discoveries could help ease pressure on global food security and reduce carbon emissions, making them a promising solution to address climate change.
The Brain & Behavior Research Foundation has awarded 200 NARSAD Young Investigator Grants to promising young scientists, valued at over $12.7 million, to conduct groundbreaking neurobiological research on psychiatric disorders affecting one in four people.
A new study published in PLOS Computational Biology found that pupil size can predict the reliability of decisions. Researchers measured pupil size before participants made decisions and found that larger pupils were associated with poorer performance.
Researchers found that artificial sweeteners can induce glucose intolerance by changing the composition and function of the gut microbiota. The study used mice and human data to show that certain bacteria in the gut react to artificial sweeteners, leading to inflammation and metabolic changes.
A new randomized trial demonstrated that optical coherence tomography (OCT) guidance during stent implantation in primary PCI for ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) improves patient outcomes. The OCT STEMI trial found lower area stenosis and fewer uncovered struts after nine months, indicating better long-term results.
A randomized trial found that IVUS-guidance significantly improved 12-month clinical outcomes after new-generation drug-eluting stent implantation, compared to conventional angiography-guided CTO intervention. The IVUS-CTO study showed lower rates of cardiac death, myocardial infarction, and target-vessel revascularization in the IVUS-...
A new study compared the effectiveness of fractional flow reserve (FFR)-guided and angiography-guided provisional side branch stenting in patients with true coronary bifurcation lesions. The FFR-guided approach yielded similar one-year composite rates of major adverse cardiac events to the current standard of care.
The RIBS IV trial reported that everolimus-eluting stents (EES) provide superior late angiographic results and better late clinical outcomes compared to drug-eluting balloons (DEB). EES demonstrated a larger in-segment minimal lumen diameter at nine months and higher rates of freedom from target lesion revascularization.
High levels of T-bet in CD8+ T cells are prevalent in individuals who successfully fight off hepatitis infections. The protein is linked to the production of antiviral molecules like interferon and the ability of CD8+ T cells to multiply in response to the virus.
The ISAR-CLOSURE trial reported that vascular closure devices (VCD) are non-inferior to manual compression in patients undergoing transfemoral coronary angiography. VCDs were found to reduce time-to-hemostasis, but had a higher rate of repeat manual compressions.
The PARTNER I trial found that TAVR demonstrated persistent mortality benefits and improved functional status after five years compared to standard therapy. This is the first long-term analysis of the randomized PARTNER I trial, which initially showed TAVR as an accepted therapy for inoperable patients with severe aortic stenosis.
The CoreValve US Pivotal trial showed improved survival benefit in patients with aortic stenosis, with low rates of all-cause mortality and major stroke after two years. The study demonstrated durable improvement in hemodynamic valve performance and low rates of moderate or severe aortic insufficiency.
Dr. Mack, the first surgeon to receive the award, has made significant contributions to research involving minimally invasive surgery and percutaneous heart valve therapy. He has performed over 7,000 cardiac surgeries, including 3,000 heart valve procedures.
The researchers used acoustic waves to communicate with an artificial atom, demonstrating phenomena from quantum physics. The study could potentially harness quantum physics to create faster computers by controlling and studying quantum electrical circuits.
Two new projects, ELEVATE and Ultra Efficient Engines and Fuels, will develop better materials for energy storage devices and improve internal combustion engine efficiency. The £6 million funding will support academics from eight UK universities in their research to produce low-carbon vehicles on a mass scale.
The Augsburg Master Builders' ledgers have been awarded a digital edition through an EUR 400,000 German Research Foundation grant. The medieval books will be transcribed and transferred to modern data entry formats for analysis, making them more accessible to historians and researchers.
A UNSW Australia-led team pioneers citizen oceanography by having recreational sailors collect and test data from remote waters on their yachts. This cost-effective approach demonstrated that scientists can gather large quantities of information as they sail around the world, advancing the field of oceanography.
A pilot study among low-income African-Americans in Detroit found that texting is the preferred method of collecting real-time information from community members. The study suggests that texting can help give a voice to underrepresented populations and tap into their needs.
Research on e-cigarettes reveals potential links to asthma and emphysema, as well as a successful quitting aid, but also raises concerns about long-term effects and lack of consensus among doctors. The ERS Congress emphasizes the need for strong regulation to protect vulnerable populations.
A study published by the American Academy of Neurology found a link between sleep difficulties and rapid brain volume decline in adults. The research, which included 147 participants aged 20-84, revealed that poor sleep quality was associated with faster declines in brain regions including frontal, temporal, and parietal areas.
The Healthy Mind app, launched by the University of Southampton, aims to relieve stress using nine tools and intelligent notification scheduling. The app will monitor user data to determine the best time for notifications, increasing the chance that they are received and used to manage stress.
Researchers found that stone-tipped spears created larger and wider wound cavities than sharpened wooden spears, despite not penetrating deeper into gelatin. This could indicate a greater 'killing power' for tipped spears.
A novel decision support system combines computer vision algorithms with visualization of relevant areas to aid in malaria diagnosis. The method was shown to be accurate comparable to World Health Organization quality criteria, with over 90% of infected samples correctly diagnosed.
A recent study published in PLOS ONE found that passport officers struggled with face matching tasks, making errors comparable to those of untrained university students. The researchers suggest that selecting staff based on their aptitude for visual tasks could significantly improve security checks.
A significant shortfall in global fruit and vegetable consumption is revealed, with most adults needing to double their intake to meet minimum recommendations. The vast majority of adults worldwide are falling short of the recommended daily serving size of five servings (400 grams), missing out on crucial phytonutrients.
Weizmann Institute scientists have created twisted, rope-like structures from cube-shaped nanoparticles, demonstrating the power of self-assembly in nanomaterials. The findings reveal how competing forces like magnetism and van der Waals forces can align particles into complex shapes.
A study published in PSPB found that racial minority groups approach diversity differently, with African Americans prioritizing in-group representation and Asian Americans considering national statistics on discrimination. Understanding these differences is crucial for creating diverse teams and organizations.
Six new research projects will use technology, data, and information to create better energy strategies and behaviors in public and private non-domestic buildings. The projects aim to reduce UK carbon emissions from such buildings by 18% and final energy consumption by 13%.
The American Gastroenterological Association has awarded seven high school students with grants to support their research projects on digestive diseases. The students will receive up to $2,500 each to conduct research for at least 10 weeks.
A Japanese research group found that individuals with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) have decreased activity in the extrastriate body area when imitated, indicating a lack of proper understanding of movement. This study provides new insights into ASD and can be used to evaluate behavioral interventions for alleviating the disorder.
The study found that Australian Twitter adoption grew slowly in early days before peaking at 100,000 new registrations per month in 2009. By August 2013, the monthly growth rate averaged 45,000 accounts, reaching 80,000. This trend suggests a steady influx of new Australian Twitter accounts.
Sean Curran, a USC researcher, has been awarded the GSA's 2014 Nathan Shock New Investigator Award for his contributions to understanding the vital roles of metabolism in aging. His work aims to identify evolutionarily conserved mechanisms that regulate cellular and organism survival and longevity.
A study found that goalkeepers dive in the opposite direction of consecutive penalties aimed in the same direction, exploiting the 'gambler's fallacy'. However, kickers failed to capitalize on this pattern, suggesting they focus on their individual kicks rather than the goalkeeper's previous moves.
Researchers at University of Bristol found that liquid calories from soft drinks are taken into account when planning meals. Meals served with a calorific drink were expected to be more satiating than those served with water or snacks.
New research by academics at the University of Bristol's Nutrition and Behaviour Unit found that people factor in liquid calories when estimating a meal's satiating effect. The study, led by Professor Jeff Brunstrom, compared meals with calorific drinks to those served with water or snacks.
Researchers analyzed data from over 18,000 patients to find more than two dozen genetic risk factors involved in Parkinson's disease, including six previously unknown. The study confirms that the more variants a person has, the greater their risk of developing the disorder.
Heather M. Young, PhD, RN, FAAN, receives the 2014 Doris Schwartz Gerontological Nursing Research Award from GSA for her work on promoting healthy aging and improving long-term care policies. She is a nationally recognized expert in gerontological nursing and rural health care.
Studies have shown that wireless home automation systems can be vulnerable to attacks, allowing hackers to gain insight into users' behavioral patterns. Even encrypted systems can provide valuable information to third parties, putting inhabitants' privacy at risk.
Research from University of Illinois expert Ravi Mehta found that people are self-controlled in everyday behavior, but indulge when thinking long-term. Abstract thinking can lead to feelings of missing out, regret, and corrective overindulgence, contradicting common consumer psychology literature.
Using a femtosecond laser source, the team imaged an acetylene molecule's transformation into vinylidene with unprecedented spatial and temporal resolution. This breakthrough allows researchers to study ultrafast molecular dynamics of small organic molecules.
The study found that beef is the most costly to the environment, followed by dairy and poultry, while pork and eggs are relatively similar. The researchers developed equations to calculate the environmental costs per calorie and protein unit, providing a comprehensive picture of the ecological impact of various foods.
Researchers found that flocking starlings aim to maintain an optimum density to gather data on surroundings, creating a dynamic pattern of light and dark. This pattern is crucial for individual birds within the flock to gather vital information.
A recent study found that older registered nurses are working longer, accounting for a quarter of the surge in RNs in recent years. The trend extends nursing careers by 2.5 years after age 50, increasing the 2012 RN workforce by 136,000 people.
Research by University of Illinois expert T. Brad Harris finds that boomerang employees have distinct experiences, often leaving due to personal shock rather than job dissatisfaction. Organizations can improve re-employment performance by considering previous performance histories, exit terms, and individual circumstances.
Scientists detect a split-second burst of radio waves from the Arecibo telescope, marking the first time such an event has been recorded using an instrument other than the Parkes radio telescope. The finding suggests that these mysterious pulses are truly of cosmic origin and may be caused by exotic astrophysical objects.
Researchers have developed modified proteins that can mimic the behavior of fats, allowing for the creation of low-fat versions of cheeses and cakes. This breakthrough has the potential to reduce obesity and health problems associated with it, while also cutting costs for food manufacturers.
The University of Gothenburg has received grants for the recruitment of computational linguist Shalom Lappin and philosopher Paul Russell, both from top-ranked institutions. The grants total SEK 189 million over ten years, supporting their research in language, philosophy, and moral responsibility.
Researchers at the Telescope Array observatory detected a disproportionate number of high-energy cosmic rays emanating from a specific area in the northern sky. The discovery provides a promising lead in identifying the sources of these enigmatic particles, which are believed to originate from beyond our galaxy.
A study by Kansas State University researcher Sooyeol Kim found that employees who take short smartphone breaks throughout the day are happier at the end of the workday. Microbreaks, defined as non-working-related behaviors during working hours, can provide employees with refreshment and help them cope with stressors.
Researchers have determined how light beams excite chemicals in solar panels, producing charge. The findings open avenues for future research into designing more efficient solar cells.
Researchers will study nitrogen oxides and develop novel catalysts for low-temperature reduction of NOx emissions. They will also evaluate anti-bacterial effects of new formulations against Lyme disease.
Researchers from Cambridge University have broken a world record by trapping a strong magnetic field in a high-temperature superconductor. The achievement demonstrates the potential of these materials for various applications, including energy storage and transportation systems.