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Science News Archive June 2012 - Page 2


Page 2 of 29

Good news for aging eyes

According to a Northwestern University study, the prevalence of visual impairment in adults aged 65 and older decreased by 58% between 1984 and 2010. Improved cataract surgery techniques and reduced smoking rates are likely contributing factors.

SourceNorthwestern University·JournalOphthalmology·DateJun 28, 2012

Study provides first evidence of coevolution between invasive, native species

A University of Georgia study reveals that native clearweed plants have evolved resistance to invasive garlic mustard, and the invasive species is countering with its own chemical warfare. The study provides evidence of coevolution between native and invasive plant species, suggesting a potential for ecosystem equilibrium over time.

SourceUniversity of Georgia·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateJun 28, 2012

Forty's a crowd

Researchers discovered that master regulator protein ATF6α brings a plethora of coactivators to gene expression sites, activating downstream genes involved in the ER stress response. The study suggests ways to dampen ER stress signaling molecularly and could reveal new targets for diseases like Alzheimer's and Huntington's Diseases.

SourceStowers Institute for Medical Research·JournalJournal of Biological Chemistry·DateJun 28, 2012

Flu immunity is affected by how many viruses actually cause the infection

A new study found that the number of viruses involved in a flu infection impacts the immune response, with high-dose infections generating stronger immunity and increased protection against reinfection. This discovery could lead to improved vaccine design and broader protection against emerging flu strains.

SourceFederation of American Societies for Experimental Biology·JournalJournal of Leukocyte Biology·DateJun 28, 2012

Studying fish to learn about fat

Researchers at Carnegie Institution have developed a method to observe lipid metabolism in live zebrafish, revealing new aspects of lipid absorption that could improve human health. The technique enables scientists to study the process by which proteins mediate fatty acid uptake and cholesterol transport.

SourceCarnegie Institution for Science·JournalChemistry & Biology·DateJun 28, 2012

Saving the Baltic Sea

Researchers from Lund University call for abandonment of geo-engineering efforts to mix oxygen into the Deep Baltic due to unforeseen effects. The Baltic Sea is experiencing hypoxia, and while geo-engineering schemes promise short-term improvements, they are also potentially dangerous.

SourceLund University·JournalNature·DateJun 28, 2012

Searching for the origin of muscles

Researchers have discovered that ancient sea creatures like sponges and jellyfish possess the building blocks of striated muscles found in higher animals. Gene duplication is believed to be responsible for the emergence of muscle myosin, a crucial protein structure, which evolved independently in these organisms.

SourceUniversity of Vienna·JournalNature·DateJun 28, 2012

Turning skin cells into brain cells

Scientists successfully converted skin cells from a patient with severe Huntington's disease into neurons that degenerate like those affected by the fatal disorder. This breakthrough enables researchers to test potential drug therapies on human brain cells in a dish.

SourceJohns Hopkins Medicine·JournalCell Stem Cell·DateJun 28, 2012

Injecting life-saving oxygen into a vein

Researchers at Boston Children's Hospital have developed tiny gas-filled microparticles that can be injected into the bloodstream to quickly oxygenate blood. The infusion restored blood oxygen saturation to near-normal levels within seconds, even in animals with blocked airways.

SourceBoston Children's Hospital·JournalScience Translational Medicine·DateJun 27, 2012

Sensitive test helps improve vaccine safety

A new test, RapidChek SELECTTM Salmonella, detects Salmonella Typhi shedding in stool with a 10-fold to 1000-fold improvement over traditional methods. This technology assesses the degree and duration of shedding after immunization, ensuring vaccine efficacy and community safety.

SourceArizona State University·JournalJournal of Microbiological Methods·DateJun 27, 2012