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Science News Archive June 2013 - Page 14


Page 14 of 30

A new target for cancer drug development

Harvard researchers have identified the SALL4 gene as a key player in tumor formation, and have demonstrated that blocking its activity can halt cancer growth. The study provides new hope for treating aggressive forms of leukemia and other cancers.

SourceHarvard University·JournalNew England Journal of Medicine·DateJun 17, 2013

Working backward: Computer-aided design of zeolite templates

Researchers at Rice University have developed a computational method to tailor the properties of zeolites, a crucial step in producing industrial minerals. The method uses organic structure directing agents (OSDAs) to guide the growth of zeolite crystals and can potentially produce new types of zeolites.

SourceRice University·JournalJournal of Materials Chemistry A·DateJun 17, 2013

New study shows predators affect the carbon cycle

A recent study found that the presence of spiders drives up the rate of carbon uptake by plants, while also changing their storage patterns. This effect is linked to the predator-prey relationship between grasshoppers and spiders, highlighting the vital role of predators in regulating the carbon cycle.

SourceYale School of the Environment·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateJun 17, 2013

A robot that runs like a cat

The 'cheetah-cub robot' boasts excellent auto-stabilization characteristics and can run nearly seven times its body length in one second. Its design is based on the meticulous observation of feline leg morphology, featuring springs to reproduce tendons and actuators to replace muscles.

SourceEcole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne·JournalThe International Journal of Robotics Research·DateJun 17, 2013

Mobile health devices can improve health care access in developing countries, remote regions

The development of mobile-presence medical devices can help fill the void of limited healthcare infrastructure and access to medical professionals in remote locations. Pilot tests have successfully connected obstetricians with pregnant women in Bolivia, enabling real-time monitoring and diagnostic imaging.

SourceCanadian Medical Association Journal·JournalCanadian Medical Association Journal·DateJun 17, 2013

Medical assessment in the blink of an eye

Researchers found that medical specialists can identify abnormality in breast and cervical cancer images with high accuracy, outperforming random guessing. However, localizing the issue proves challenging even for experts.

SourceSpringer·JournalPsychonomic Bulletin & Review·DateJun 17, 2013

JCI early table of contents for June 17, 2013

Researchers identified a genetic translocation that can precipitate disease in adenoid cystic carcinoma patients. They also found that variants in the SIM1 gene are associated with severe obesity, while vitamin B3 blocks cyst formation in a mouse model of polycystic kidney disease.

SourceJCI Journals·JournalJournal of Clinical Investigation·DateJun 17, 2013

Slow and steady wins the baggage search

Researchers found that trained Transportation Security Administration (TSA) screening officers were slower than undergraduate students but more accurate in identifying T-shaped arrangements on computer screens. Consistent search patterns freed up brain processing, improving performance.

SourceDuke University·JournalVisual Cognition·DateJun 17, 2013

Noble gases hitch a ride on hydrous minerals

Geochemists at Brown University have discovered noble gases can dissolve in amphibole minerals, providing a potential mechanism for their recycling between the atmosphere and Earth's interior. This finding is significant as it sheds light on how other volatiles like water and carbon are cycled.

SourceBrown University·JournalNature Geoscience·DateJun 16, 2013

Global cooling as significant as global warming

A global cooling event, similar to recent global warming, occurred 116 million years ago, causing a marine ecosystem crisis and reducing atmospheric CO2 levels. This study highlights the link between global climate and internal earth processes, demonstrating that large-scale changes can have severe consequences for marine life.

SourceNewcastle University·JournalNature Geoscience·DateJun 16, 2013

Mapping translation sites in the human genome

A team at Arizona State University has identified thousands of RNA sequences, known as Translation Enhancing Elements (TEEs), which initiate cap-independent translation in the human genome. These findings have significant implications for understanding protein synthesis and may hold potential for biomedical applications.

SourceArizona State University·JournalNature Methods·DateJun 16, 2013