Add BrightSurf on Google Email

Science News Archive December 2010 - Page 8


Page 8 of 21

Insight offers new angle of attack on variety of brain tumors

A new research paper published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute reveals a genetic mutation that leads to abnormal metabolic processes in gliomas, potentially leading to targeted therapies. The study shows that almost all tumors with IDH mutations have the same methylation pattern.

SourceBrown University·JournalJNCI Journal of the National Cancer Institute·DateDec 15, 2010

Close proximity leads to better science

Researchers found that papers with authors in the same building were cited 45% more than those in different buildings. The closer first and last authors are located, the more impactful the paper is, according to a new Harvard study.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS ONE·DateDec 15, 2010

Seaweed as biofuel? Metabolic engineering makes it a viable option

A University of Illinois research team has developed a strain of yeast that can efficiently ferment galactose, a key component of seaweed, making it a viable option for biofuel production. The discovery improves the economic viability of marine biofuels by increasing fermentation rates and reducing production costs.

The AVE pollutes 29 percent less than traditional trains

A study by the Spanish Railways Foundation found that high-speed trains, such as the AVE, consume 29% less energy and produce 31kg less CO2 per passenger compared to traditional trains. The main advantage of high-speed lines is not in reducing fossil fuel consumption, but in attracting passengers who would otherwise travel by air or car.

SourceSpanish Foundation for Science and Technology·JournalTransportation Research Record Journal of the Transportation Research Board·DateDec 14, 2010

1 tale told is 2 tails gained

Researchers from Arizona State University are studying Anolis lizards to understand their ability to regenerate tissues, with potential applications in treating human osteoarthritis and spinal cord injuries. The team is using molecular methods and the lizard's genome sequence to identify key genes involved in regeneration.

Unique case study on Alzheimer's disease

A Swedish case study reveals how Alzheimer's disease progresses, with high amyloid plaque levels at early stages and declining brain energy. The discovery sheds light on the role of nicotinic receptors and neuroinflammation in the disease, offering new insights for diagnosis and treatment.

SourceKarolinska Institutet·JournalBrain·DateDec 14, 2010

Once upon a time in the Intensive Care Unit ...

Research led by McGill University Health Centre found that nearly 70% of parents reported feeling closer to their babies after reading to them in the NICU. The practice also encouraged parents to continue reading at home, with those who read to their child in the NICU three times more likely to do so.

SourceMcGill University Health Centre·JournalJournal of Developmental & Behavioral Pediatrics·DateDec 14, 2010

Making wafers faster by making features smaller

Researchers developed a new intense 13.5-nm light source using tin and lithium plasmas, which can reduce feature size by an order of magnitude, resolving the fundamental limit in semiconductor manufacturing. The technology has shown promising results, with tin plasmas producing twice as much emission as lithium plasmas.

SourceAmerican Institute of Physics·JournalJournal of Applied Physics·DateDec 14, 2010

Zebrafish provide new hope for cancer treatment

Researchers used zebrafish to track the behavior of cancer cells and immune cells, discovering that cancer cells produce hydrogen peroxide to attract immune cells. This co-option of the immune system allows tumors to grow and spread, but blocking this interaction can prevent tumor formation.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS Biology·DateDec 14, 2010

Tackling the erosion of a special river island

A team of researchers led by David Furbish from Vanderbilt University is studying the erosion of Locke Island, which has been alarmingly eroding away since the 1970s. The island's difficulties began when the east bank of the river adjacent to it collapsed, causing a landslide that pinched down the channel flowing around the island.

Researchers discover new signaling pathway linked to inflammatory disease

Researchers have identified a key inhibitory role for the IL-1 signaling pathway in the human innate immune system, revealing its impact on inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and anti-inflammatory cytokine production. The study suggests that certain drugs used to treat conditions like rheumatoid arthritis may be harmful to IBD patients.

SourceUniversity of California - San Diego·JournalJournal of Experimental Medicine·DateDec 14, 2010

Special section on stigma in Perspectives on Psychological Science: Group differences, not deficits

This special section of Perspectives on Psychological Science explores how psychologists can avoid stigmatizing groups by framing individual and group differences as strengths. Experts discuss the importance of challenging biases and stereotypes in research, teaching, and advocacy to promote a more inclusive field of psychology.

SourceAssociation for Psychological Science·JournalPerspectives on Psychological Science·DateDec 14, 2010

New asthma research breaks the mold

Scientists have discovered that many people with asthma actually had the mould growing in their own lungs. A study by University of Leicester researchers found that 6 out of 10 people with asthma who were allergic to a common mould grew the mould from their sputum, leading to fixed narrowing of the airways.

SourceUniversity of Leicester·JournalAmerican Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine·DateDec 14, 2010

Optical water quality assessment

A USGS study assessed the McKenzie River in Oregon, measuring optical properties to understand dissolved organic carbon and its impact on drinking water quality. The results indicated that sources of dissolved organic carbon originated upstream and were linked to human activity.

SourceAmerican Society of Agronomy·JournalJournal of Environmental Quality·DateDec 14, 2010