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Science News for December 23, 2010


Finding new ways to tackle environmental diseases

Researchers at the University of Exeter have developed a new screen to isolate virulent parts of pathogenic bacteria, enabling quicker identification of key areas for vaccine development. The technique has been used to study Burkholderia pseudomallei, a deadly human disease-causing bacteria.

SourceUniversity of Exeter·JournalPLOS ONE·DateDec 23, 2010

Fat cells become useful stem cells in tissue reconstruction

Researchers have isolated and characterized adult fat cell-derived stem cells, which maintain their stem cell characteristics and could aid in tissue regeneration. The study's findings suggest that these cells may be useful for cell-based therapies and represent a promising area of research for plastic surgery applications.

SourceCell Transplantation Center of Excellence for Aging and Brain Repair·JournalCell Transplantation·DateDec 23, 2010

You are what your father ate

Scientists at UMass Chan Medical School discovered that paternal diet can reprogram lipid metabolizing genes in offspring, increasing the risk of diabetes and heart disease. The study suggests that epigenetic inheritance plays a significant role in complex diseases.

SourceUMass Chan Medical School·JournalCell·DateDec 23, 2010
GQ GMC-500Plus Geiger Counter

GQ GMC-500Plus Geiger Counter logs beta, gamma, and X-ray levels for environmental monitoring, training labs, and safety demonstrations.

Gene alteration in mice mimics heart-building effect of exercise

Researchers found that altering a specific gene in mice mimicked the effects of endurance training on their heart muscle cells. The genetically altered mice showed improved resistance to cardiac stress and had more robust cardiomyocytes, which played a crucial role in their increased exercise capacity.

SourceDana-Farber Cancer Institute·JournalCell·DateDec 23, 2010

Protein involved in early steps of melanoma development revealed

Researchers at Sanford-Burnham Medical Research Institute have unraveled the relationship between MITF and ATF2, a transcription factor involved in melanoma development. The study reveals that the ratio of ATF2 to MITF in melanoma cells can predict survival in melanoma patients.

SourceSanford Burnham Prebys·JournalPLOS Genetics·DateDec 23, 2010

Gatekeeper for tomato pollination identified

Scientists at UC Davis have identified a gene called Cullin1 that acts as a biochemical gatekeeper, controlling whether or not pollen from related wild species can fertilize tomatoes. This finding has significant implications for plant breeding and understanding reproductive biology in the Solanaceae family.

SourceUniversity of California - Davis·JournalScience·DateDec 23, 2010

Heat shock protein drives yeast evolution

Researchers discovered that heat shock protein 90 affects a large portion of the yeast genome, revealing multiple traits simultaneously and instantly. This allows for rapid evolution of interdependent traits, leading to a better adaptation to stressful environments.

SourceWhitehead Institute for Biomedical Research·JournalScience·DateDec 23, 2010
Meta Quest 3 512GB

Meta Quest 3 512GB enables immersive mission planning, terrain rehearsal, and interactive STEM demos with high-resolution mixed-reality experiences.

How exercise grows a healthy heart

A new study in mice suggests that exercise turns on a genetic program that leads the heart to grow as heart muscle cells divide. Researchers identified a key transcription factor involved in this process, which may have clinical implications for those with heart failure or other conditions.

SourceCell Press·JournalCell·DateDec 23, 2010

How cells running on empty trigger fuel recycling

Scientists found that AMPK, a metabolic master switch, triggers autophagy by activating the enzyme ATG1. This process helps cells recycle debris and survive starvation better, which is significant for aging-related diseases like type II diabetes and Parkinson's disease.

SourceSalk Institute·JournalScience·DateDec 23, 2010

A new model to predict poor maternal outcomes in pre-eclampsia

A new model, fullPIERS, predicts adverse maternal outcomes in pre-eclampsia with high accuracy and identifies risk categories for clinicians. The model is built on six variables and performs well in predicting outcomes within 48 hours of hospital admission.

SourceThe Lancet_DELETED·JournalThe Lancet·DateDec 23, 2010
SAMSUNG T9 Portable SSD 2TB

SAMSUNG T9 Portable SSD 2TB transfers large imagery and model outputs quickly between field laptops, lab workstations, and secure archives.

Emotional intelligence empowers positive attitudes in private sector; not in public sector

A new study from the University of Haifa found that high levels of emotional intelligence empower positive attitudes and reduce negative behavior in private sector workplaces. However, this effect was not observed in the public sector, where organizational politics and stress may offset the benefits of emotional intelligence.

SourceUniversity of Haifa·JournalPublic Administration Review·DateDec 23, 2010

You are what your father ate too

A new study found that mice sired by fathers on a low-protein diet exhibit changes in metabolic genes, passed down via the sperm, and associated with improved cholesterol metabolism. This suggests transgenerational reprogramming of metabolism, challenging traditional views on the impact of parental nutrition.

SourceCell Press·JournalCell·DateDec 23, 2010

Some brain tumors mimic the genetic program of germline cells

Scientists at IRB Barcelona discovered that some brain tumors in fruit flies use the genetic program of germline cells to grow. Silencing specific genes leads to healthy brains, highlighting their crucial role in tumor development. This finding offers new insights into cancer research and potential treatment approaches.

SourceInstitute for Research in Biomedicine (IRB Barcelona)·JournalScience·DateDec 23, 2010

Electronic medical records not always linked to better care in hospitals, study finds

A new RAND Corporation study found that electronic medical records have only a limited impact on improving the quality of hospital care. Hospitals with basic electronic health records showed a significant increase in quality of care for patients with heart failure, but no similar gains were noted among those with advanced electronic he...

SourceRAND Corporation·JournalThe American Journal of Managed Care·DateDec 23, 2010
Apple iPhone 17 Pro

Apple iPhone 17 Pro delivers top performance and advanced cameras for field documentation, data collection, and secure research communications.

Kidney disease patients: Eat your veggies, reward your kidneys

A vegetarian diet has been shown to lower blood and urine phosphorous levels in patients with chronic kidney disease. The study found that grain-based protein sources, such as those found in vegetables, may help reduce the risk of accumulating toxic levels of phosphorus in the body.

SourceAmerican Society of Nephrology·JournalClinical Journal of the American Society of Nephrology·DateDec 23, 2010