DENVER, Aug. 20, 2024 — Who are we? Why are we here? As the Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young song suggests, we are stardust, the result of chemistry occurring throughout vast clouds of interstellar gas and dust. To better understand how that chemistry could create prebiotic molecules — the seeds of life on Earth and possibly elsewhere — researchers investigated the role of low-energy electrons created as cosmic radiation traverses through ice particles. Their findings may also inform medical and environmental applications on our home planet. Undergraduate student Kennedy Barnes will present the team’s results at the fall meeting of the American ...

Scientists are finding clues for how to treat diabetes and hormone disorders in an unexpected place: a toxin from one of the most venomous animals on the planet. A multinational research team led by University of Utah scientists has identified a component within the venom of a deadly marine cone snail, the geography cone, that mimics a human hormone called somatostatin, which regulates the levels of  blood sugar and various hormones in the body. The hormone-like toxin’s specific, long-lasting effects, which help the snail hunt its prey, could also help scientists design better ...

We know that the Earth has an iron core surrounded by a mantle of silicate bedrock and water (oceans) on its surface. Science has used this simple planet model until today for investigating exoplanets – planets that orbit another star outside our solar system. “It is only in recent years that we have begun to realise that planets are more complex than we had thought,” says Caroline Dorn, Professor for Exoplanets at ETH Zurich. Most of the exoplanets known today are located close to ...

Platelets are circulating cell fragments known to clump up and form blood clots that stop bleeding in injured vessels. Cardiologists have long known that platelets can become “hyperreactive” to cause abnormal clotting that blocks arteries and contributes to heart attack, stroke, and poor blood flow (peripheral artery disease) in the legs of millions of Americans. Despite this major contribution to cardiovascular risk, routine measurement of whether each patient’s platelets clump (aggregate) too much has been infeasible to date. ...

Can research on diseases as diverse as, for example, diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, psychiatric disorders and endometriosis be linked? The answer is yes if the research focuses on collecting and analysing large amounts of data from both Danish and international registers and biobanks to learn more about, among other things, risk factors, relationships, patterns, treatment and consequences.  And this is exactly what a new international Pioneer Centre, The Pioneer Centre for SMARTbiomed (Statistical and Computational Methods for Advanced Research ...

A multidisciplinary team of scientists led by Carlo Ballatore, Ph.D., at University of California San Diego and Kurt Brunden, Ph.D., at the University of Pennsylvania has been awarded a $6.9 million grant from the National Institute on Aging (NIA) to prepare a potential disease-modifying Alzheimer’s treatment for future clinical trials. In a recently published study about the new compound, called CNDR-51997, the team found it was effective in restoring brain health in mouse models of Alzheimer's disease. CNDR-51997 was identified through a joint drug discovery program at Penn and UC San Diego that was supported by grants from the NIA. The ...

Atherosclerosis, a major cause of mortality worldwide, involves an overgrowth of vascular smooth muscle cells in the blood vessels, constraining blood flow and potentially causing cardiovascular diseases. Against this backdrop, researchers from Shinshu University recently developed a DNA aptamer called iSN04 that targets and counteracts with the protein nucleolin in smooth muscle cells. This anti-nucleolin aptamer helps maintain smooth muscle cells in a differentiated state, offering new treatment potential for atherosclerosis and other vascular ...

Researchers from the group of Prof. Carles Bo, at the Institute of Chemical Research of Catalonia (ICIQ-CERCA), have described a computational methodology that simulates complex processes involving different chemical species and diverse conditions. These processes lead to the formation of nanostructures called polyoxometalates (POMs), with important applications in catalysis, energy storage, biology and medicine. "Our group has recently developed unique methods to study the chemistry of polyoxometalates in solution, their speciation and formation ...

The ratchet mechanism is a fascinating energy-conversion system that converts disorderly or random motion into orderly, directed movement through a process known as spontaneous rectification. It is a critical component of mechanical systems, typically consisting of a gear and a pawl, which restricts the movement of the gear in one direction. In biological systems, the concept of a Brownian ratchet has been proposed to help understand the mechanism of molecular motors, where chemical reactions rectify the random thermal motion of molecules. According to the second law of thermodynamics, uniform thermal ...

Porous media play a critical role in various industrial fields due to their complex pore networks and considerable specific surface areas. The transport and reaction phenomena within porous media are key factors influencing fundamental parameters such as energy storage efficiency, catalytic performance, and adsorption rates. To accurately describe these complex transport and reaction processes, solving parameterized partial differential equations (PDEs) is necessary. However, due to the complex structure of porous media, traditional methods, such as the finite element method ...

ROCKVILLE, Md. – August 19, 2024 – The Association for Molecular Pathology (AMP), the premier global molecular diagnostic professional society, and world-renowned pathologist Michael Laposata, MD, PhD, today announced the filing of a lawsuit challenging the recent U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Rule that regulates laboratory developed test (LDT) procedures as medical devices under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act. The lawsuit was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas against the FDA; Robert M. Califf, MD, in his official capacity as Commissioner of Food and Drugs; the U.S. Department of Health ...

Nylon, Teflon, Kevlar. These are just a few familiar polymers — large-molecule chemical compounds — that have changed the world. From Teflon-coated frying pans to 3D printing, polymers are vital to creating the systems that make the world function better.  Finding the next groundbreaking polymer is always a challenge, but now Georgia Tech researchers are using artificial intelligence (AI) to shape and transform the future of the field. Rampi Ramprasad’s group develops and adapts ...

LA JOLLA (August 14, 2024)—Professor Rusty Gage has been awarded the 2024 J. Allyn Taylor International Prize in Medicine by the Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry and the Robarts Research Institute at Western University. One of the most prestigious medical research awards in Canada, the Taylor Prize recognizes scientists for transformative, career-defining work in basic sciences, translational research, and medical innovations. This year’s prize specifically honors a research leader in aging-related medical science and research—a long-term focus of Gage and his lab. Gage will receive $50,000 and be celebrated at a Robarts Research ...

We know that quality sleep is as essential to survival as food and water. Yet, despite spending a third of our lives in slumber, it largely remains a scientific mystery.    Not that experts haven’t tried.   Sleep analysis, also known as polysomnography, is used to diagnose sleep disorders by recording multiple types of data, including brain (electroencephalogram or EEG) and heart (electrocardiogram or ECG). Typically, patients are hooked up to dozens of sensors and wires in a clinic, tracking brain, ...

1. NIMS and SoftBank Corp. have jointly developed a model capable of predicting the cycle lives of high-energy-density lithium-metal batteries by applying machine learning methods to battery performance data. The model proved able to accurately estimate batteries’ longevity by analyzing their charge, discharge and voltage relaxation process data without relying on any assumption about specific battery degradation mechanisms. The technique is expected to be useful in improving the safety and reliability of devices powered by lithium-metal batteries. 2. Lithium-metal ...

Natasha Sheybani, assistant professor of biomedical engineering at the University of Virginia School of Engineering, will collaborate with researchers at Children’s National Hospital to study the combination of two therapies for pediatric brain cancer.  High-risk brain tumors in children often don’t respond well to existing chemotherapy and radiation treatments, but Sheybani and her collaborators hope their fusion of therapies will offer a better option.  Over the two-year project, researchers ...

URBANA, Ill. – As the world faces the challenges of mitigating climate change and providing resources for a growing population, there is increasing focus on developing circular economies for sustainable production. But to evaluate strategies and impacts, it is necessary to have reliable metrics. Researchers at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign have developed a Circularity Index that provides a comprehensive method to quantify circularity in bioeconomic systems. In a new paper, they outline the method and apply it to two case studies – a corn/soybean farming operation and the entire U.S. food and agriculture system. “The ...

Not all forest fires have devastating effects. Low- and moderate-severity forest wildfires can reduce the intensity of future conflagrations for as long as 20 years in certain climates, according to new research by the University of California, Davis.  The extent of reduced severity of these second fires, or reburns, and the duration of the moderating effect, varies by climate, forest type and other factors. But initial fires continue to mitigate future severity even during extreme weather, such as wind, high temperatures and drought, research published in the journal Ecological ...

Currently, industrial processes in the U.S. account for approximately a third of the country’s carbon dioxide emissions – even more than the annual emissions from passenger vehicles, trucks, and airplanes combined. Decarbonizing this sector is a challenging but vital step in mitigating impacts on our future climate. Researchers at Stanford Engineering have designed and demonstrated a new type of thermochemical reactor that is capable of generating the immense amounts of heat required for many industrial processes using electricity instead of burning fossil fuels. The design, published Aug. ...

https://www.scienceopen.com/hosted-document?doi=10.15212/CVIA.2024.0032 Announcing a new article publication for Cardiovascular Innovations and Applications journal. Platelet endothelial cell adhesion molecule (PECAM-1) is present in the vascular endothelium and plays important roles in various biological processes. Several recent studies have reported associations between PECAM-1 and certain subtypes of cardiovascular diseases (CVDs). However, further research is necessary to clarify the causal effects of PECAM-1 on CVDs. To determine whether PECAM-1 and CVDs are causally ...

https://www.scienceopen.com/hosted-document?doi=10.15212/CVIA.2024.0046 Announcing a new article publication for Cardiovascular Innovations and Applications journal.  Vascular Adhesion Molecules (VAMs) appear to play important roles in the development of Cardiovascular Diseases (CVD). The roles of these molecules in mediating inflammation, endothelial dysfunction, and plaque formation suggest that they may be important as both biomarkers and therapeutic targets. Understanding and targeting these molecules are hoped to substantially contribute to ...

https://www.scienceopen.com/hosted-document?doi=10.15212/CVIA.2024.0040 Announcing a new article publication for Cardiovascular Innovations and Applications journal.  Dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM), a severe heart disease, is the leading cause of heart failure and sudden cardiac death worldwide. DCM is defined by a dilated and deficient systolic left ventricle (LV) and is a major risk factor for morbidity and mortality worldwide. DCM progression can be ascribed to genetic and non-genetic factors, including hypertension, infectious agents, toxins, and drugs. Sarcomere genes play crucial roles in myocardial cells’ physical structure and physiological function. Various cardiomyopathies ...

MEDIA INQUIRES   WRITTEN BY Laura Muntean   Ashley Vargo laura.muntean@ag.tamu.edu     601-248-1891     FOR ...

Embargoed for release until 5:00 p.m. ET on Monday 19 August 2024       Annals of Internal Medicine Tip Sheet        @Annalsofim       Below please find summaries of new articles that will be published in the next issue of Annals of Internal Medicine. The summaries are not intended to substitute for the full articles as a source of information. This information is under strict embargo and by taking it into possession, media representatives ...

Whether dialysis is the best option for kidney failure and, if so, when to start, may deserve more careful consideration, according to a new study. For older adults who were not healthy enough for a kidney transplant, starting dialysis when their kidney function fell below a certain threshold — rather than waiting — afforded them roughly one more week of life, Stanford Medicine researchers and their colleagues found. More critically, perhaps, they spent an average of two more weeks in ...