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Science News Archive 2012 - Page 113


Page 113 of 333

Moffitt Cancer Center researchers and colleagues identify PHF20, a regulator of gene P53

Researchers at Moffitt Cancer Center have identified PHF20 as a novel transcriptional factor that regulates gene P53, a crucial gene for normal cell growth and tumor suppression. The study found that PHF20 directly interacts with p53 and stabilizes it, allowing for its activation in response to DNA damage.

SourceH. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute·JournalNature Structural & Molecular Biology·DateAug 24, 2012

Modeling metastasis

Researchers used Active Shape Model to simulate fluid forces acting on breast cancer cells in blood flow. The study aims to develop new therapies targeting metastasis by understanding mechanical properties of cancer cells.

SourceAmerican Institute of Physics·JournalPhysics of Fluids·DateAug 24, 2012

Researchers describe new molecular interactions behind the inhibition of TGF beta-signaling

The study reveals that inhibitory Smads bind directly to their targets without requiring phosphorylation, constituting a crucial step in the regulation of gene transcription. This discovery sheds light on how organisms achieve balance between TGF-beta signaling pathways, critical for maintaining tissue and organism health.

Ancestral link places Mexican-Americans at greater risk for metabolic disease

A recent study found that Mexican-Americans with an ancestral link to Amerindian tribes have higher insulin resistance levels, a key indicator of several chronic conditions. The research suggests that ethnicity information is crucial in identifying individuals at high risk of disease, and that genetic markers can be used for personaliz...

Addressing the need for microscopic speed

Researchers have developed a digital microscope that creates high-resolution images at fast speeds, enabling scientists to study biological processes like cell activity in greater detail. The new device uses a programmable micromirror system to reject unwanted light and improve image quality.

SourceUniversity of Leicester·JournalPLOS ONE·DateAug 24, 2012

Only 2 percent of Canadians deny climate change

A recent survey conducted by IPAC-CO2 Research Inc. found that only 2% of Canadians reject the concept of climate change, while most believe it is real and caused by human activity. The survey also revealed divisions in opinions on how to address climate change, with some prioritizing cleaner cars and others supporting a carbon tax.

Changing epidemiology of rare disease links sinus irrigation with contaminated tap water, 2 deaths

A new study links nasal irrigation with contaminated tap water to rare disease Naegleria fowleri infections. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports two fatal cases in Louisiana where the organism was found in home water systems, highlighting the importance of using safely treated water for sinus irrigation.

SourceInfectious Diseases Society of America·JournalClinical Infectious Diseases·DateAug 23, 2012

Study reveals human drive for fair play

A new study funded by the Wellcome Trust found that humans tend to reject unfair offers of water, even when severely thirsty. The researchers used an ultimatum game to test whether humans would accept an unequal offer of water, and found that they did so only if they subjectively felt a strong need for water.

SourceWellcome Trust·JournalScientific Reports·DateAug 23, 2012

Primate of the opera: What soprano singing apes on helium reveal about the human voice

A study published in the American Journal of Physical Anthropology found that singing gibbons use the same vocal techniques as professional soprano singers. The research reveals a physiological similarity between gibbon and human voices, suggesting that complex vocal abilities evolved in humans were not due to unique modifications.

SourceWiley·JournalAmerican Journal of Physical Anthropology·DateAug 23, 2012

Past tropical climate change linked to ocean circulation, says Texas A&M team

Researchers have discovered that subsurface temperatures in the western tropical Atlantic rapidly warmed during cold periods in Earth's past. This finding suggests that when the global conveyor belt slowed down, warm subsurface waters flowed southward and rapidly warmed the deep tropics, altering climate patterns globally.

SourceTexas A&M University·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateAug 23, 2012

March Madness brings September students

Researchers found universities receive a surge of 10% more SAT scores from prospective students following a stellar sports season. This phenomenon affects all demographic backgrounds, not just certain groups like males, black students, or those who played sports in high school.

SourceBrigham Young University·JournalJournal of Sports Economics·DateAug 23, 2012

No-till could help maintain crop yields despite climate change

Research at the US Department of Agriculture found that no-till farming can reduce yield losses caused by climate change. The study simulated different climate factors on three cropping systems, finding declines in corn and millet yields over time. No-till management helped maintain wheat yields for up to 2075.

Novel microscopy method offers sharper view of brain's neural network

A team of Italian researchers has developed a new microscopy technique called confocal light sheet microscopy (CLSM) that improves the resolution and contrast of images of the brain's neural pathways. CLSM enables scientists to obtain high-resolution views of tissue samples with a resolution of a few microns and faster acquisition time.

SourceOptica·JournalOptics Express·DateAug 23, 2012

Flat lens offers a perfect image

Researchers at Harvard University have created an ultrathin flat lens that focuses light without imparting distortions, approaching the physical limit set by diffraction laws. The device is scalable and simple to manufacture, making it a promising new technology for fiber-optic communications.

SourceHarvard University·JournalNano Letters·DateAug 23, 2012

Therapeutic avenues for Parkinson's investigated at UH

Scientists at UH Center for Nuclear Receptors and Cell Signaling discovered LXRbeta, a nuclear receptor that promotes the survival of dopaminergic neurons, which are the main source of dopamine in the central nervous system. The presence of LXRbeta may offer protection against neurodegeneration of the midbrain.

SourceUniversity of Houston·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateAug 23, 2012

Cloud control could tame hurricanes, study shows

Scientists suggest cloud seeding could reduce hurricane power by a category by increasing sunlight reflection in clouds above hurricane development regions. The technique, Marine Cloud Brightening, could also lead to increased rainfall in some areas but not others.

SourceWiley·JournalAtmospheric Science Letters·DateAug 23, 2012

Most mutations come from dad

Researchers found that humans inherit more than three times as many mutations from their fathers as from their mothers. The study also suggests that the mutation rate in fathers doubles with age, while there is no association with mother's age. This new insight challenges theories of human evolution and sheds light on conditions such a...

SourceHarvard Medical School·JournalNature Genetics·DateAug 23, 2012

Nanoparticles reboot blood flow in brain

Researchers at Rice University have discovered a nanoparticle that can restore balance to the brain's vascular system after an injury. The PEG-HCC nanoparticles immediately quench superoxide activity and allow the autoregulatory system to regain its balance, potentially treating mild brain trauma by preventing further damage.

SourceRice University·JournalACS Nano·DateAug 23, 2012

How to feed data-hungry mobile devices? Use more antennas

Researchers from Rice University unveiled a new multi-antenna technology dubbed Argos, which aims to dramatically increase network capacity by allowing cell towers to simultaneously beam signals to more than a dozen customers on the same frequency. The technology could result in a six-fold increase in network capacity and energy savings.