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| Opioid dependence found to permanently change brains of rats Posted: 24 Jan 2020 12:51 PM PST Approximately one-quarter of patients who are prescribed opioids for chronic pain misuse them, with five to 10 percent developing an opioid use disorder or addiction. In a new study, researchers found that opioid dependence produced permanent changes in the brains of rats. |
| 'Jumping genes' help stabilize DNA folding patterns Posted: 24 Jan 2020 12:51 PM PST The DNA molecule inside the nucleus of any human cell is more than six feet long. To fit into such a small space, it must fold into precise loops that also govern how genes are turned on or off. New research indicates that 'jumping genes' play a surprising role in stabilizing the 3D folding patterns of the DNA molecule inside the cell's nucleus. |
| Blue-emitting diode demonstrates limitations and promise of perovskite semiconductors Posted: 24 Jan 2020 12:51 PM PST Halide perovskites have garnered attention because they're highly efficient at capturing energy in solar cells and efficient emitters in diodes. But researchers failed at making perovskite LEDs that emit blue light. Chemists succeeded, but X-ray studies of the LED's structure show that it's very sensitive to temperature, humidity and chemical environment. Hence environmental and chemical control is essential for stable operation. But these properties also allow for potentially broader use, such as sensors. |
| Early life adversity and opioid addiction Posted: 24 Jan 2020 12:51 PM PST Individuals with a history of early life adversity (ELA) are disproportionately prone to opioid addiction. A new study reveals why. The study examines how early adversities interact with factors such as increased access to opioids to directly influence brain development and function, causing a higher potential for opioid addiction. |
| Scientists capture molecular maps of animal tissue with unprecedented detail Posted: 23 Jan 2020 02:07 PM PST Scientists have refined a technique called mass spectrometry imaging (MSI) that translates reams of data into detailed visuals of the molecular makeup of biological samples. Their work features images with mass resolution so high that every color in the image represents a distinct kind of molecule. |
| Weight loss and health improvements with Mediterranean, fasting & Paleo diets Posted: 23 Jan 2020 02:07 PM PST There were some weight loss and health benefits for overweight adults who followed the Mediterranean, Intermittent Fasting and Paleo diets, though adherence to the diets dropped off considerably during the one-year study, new research shows. |
| High-protein diets boost artery-clogging plaque, mouse study shows Posted: 23 Jan 2020 12:26 PM PST High-protein diets may help people lose weight and build muscle, but a new study in mice suggests they have a down side: They lead to more plaque in the arteries. Further, the new research shows that high-protein diets spur unstable plaque -- the kind most prone to rupturing and causing blocked arteries. More plaque buildup in the arteries, particularly if it's unstable, increases the risk of heart attack. |
| Predictive touch response mechanism is a step toward a tactile internet Posted: 23 Jan 2020 12:26 PM PST A team of researchers has developed a method for enhancing haptic feedback experiences in human-to-machine applications that are typical in the Tactile Internet. |
| 2018's Four Corners drought directly linked to human-caused climate change Posted: 23 Jan 2020 12:26 PM PST The western United States has experienced such intense droughts over the past decade that technical descriptions are becoming inadequate. In many places, conditions are rocketing past "severe," through "extreme," all the way to "exceptional drought." |
| Mapping the cumulative health effects of environmental exposures Posted: 23 Jan 2020 12:26 PM PST The genomics revolution has provided powerful insights into genetic risk factors for human disease while also revealing the limits of genetic determinants, which account for only a fraction of total disease risk. A new article argues that a similar large-scale effort is needed to ensure a more complete picture of disease risk by accounting for the exposome, defined as our cumulative exposure to environmental agents such as chemical pollutants. |
| Acetone plus light creates a green jet fuel additive Posted: 23 Jan 2020 12:26 PM PST Take biomass-derived acetone -- common nail polish remover -- use light to upgrade it to higher-mass hydrocarbons, and, voila, you have a domestically generated product that can be blended with conventional jet fuel to fly while providing environmental benefits, creating domestic jobs, securing the nation's global leadership in bioenergy technologies, and improving U.S. energy security. |
| Astronomers detect large amounts of oxygen in ancient star's atmosphere Posted: 23 Jan 2020 12:25 PM PST Astronomers have detected large amounts of oxygen in the atmosphere of one of the oldest and most elementally depleted stars known -- a 'primitive star' scientists call J0815+4729. This new finding provides an important clue on how oxygen and other important elements were produced in the first generations of stars in the universe. |
| Engineered capillaries model traffic in tiny blood vessels Posted: 23 Jan 2020 12:25 PM PST 3D microvessels have been created to observe how red blood cells transit ultra-small blood vessels. They squeeze single-file through microvessels to bring oxygen and nutrients. Red cells burdened with malaria stall, blocking the blood vessel. The platform is expected to have other uses in studies of how microvascular damage occurs in diabetes and sickle cell anemia. They might be further developed to supply blood circulation to organ repair patches or to 3D printed transplants. |
| Jewel beetles' sparkle helps them hide in plain sight Posted: 23 Jan 2020 12:25 PM PST Bright colors are often considered an evolutionary tradeoff in the animal kingdom. Yes, a male peacock's colorful feathers may help it attract a mate, but they also make it more likely to be seen by a predator. Jewel beetles and their iridescent wing cases may be an exception to the rule, researchers report. They found that the insects' bright colors can act as a form of camouflage. |
| Snake stem cells used to create venom-producing organoids Posted: 23 Jan 2020 12:25 PM PST Organoids have become an important tool for studying many disease processes and testing potential drugs. Now, they are being used in a surprising and unexpected way: for the production of snake venom. Researchers are reporting that they have created organoids of the venom glands of the Cape coral snake (Aspidelaps lubricus cowlesi) and that these glands are capable of producing venom. |
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