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Science News Archive May 2013 - Page 21


Page 21 of 30

Markets erode moral values

Researchers found that markets significantly lower moral standards, with subjects willing to accept killing a mouse for money. In market conditions, people focus on competition and profits over moral concerns, leading to an erosion of moral values.

SourceUniversity of Bonn·JournalScience·DateMay 10, 2013

Cocaine vaccine passes key testing hurdle

Researchers at Weill Cornell Medical College have developed an anti-cocaine vaccine that prevents the drug from reaching the brain and producing a high. The vaccine works by generating antibodies against cocaine, rendering it ineffective, and has shown promising results in non-human primates.

SourceWeill Cornell Medicine·JournalNeuropsychopharmacology·DateMay 10, 2013

Advance in tuberous sclerosis brain science

A new study in mice reveals that the timing of gene mutation during thalamus development significantly affects TSC-like behavioral symptoms and disease severity. The research highlights the importance of the thalamus in brain function and suggests a potential target for future treatments.

SourceBrown University·JournalNeuron·DateMay 9, 2013

Study finds brain system for emotional self-control

A new study from UCL Institute of Cognitive Neuroscience and Ghent University found that different brain areas are activated when individuals choose to suppress an emotion compared to when they are instructed to do so. This discovery could have implications for therapies targeting mental health conditions.

SourceUniversity College London·JournalBrain Structure and Function·DateMay 9, 2013

The Liverpool Care Pathway -- improvement in quality of end-of-life care

This study assesses the effectiveness of the Liverpool Care Pathway on quality of end-of-life care for adult cancer patients. The LCP provides a structured programme to improve care dimensions, resulting in clinically significant improvements in respect, kindness, dignity, family emotional support, self-efficacy, and coordination of care.

SourceSAGE·JournalPalliative Medicine·DateMay 9, 2013

Operating without interrupting warfarin reduces risk of bleeding after cardiac device surgery

A new study found that patients who underwent cardiac device surgery without interrupting warfarin treatment had a 80% lower risk of developing significant hematomas compared to those bridged with heparin. This approach also reduced prolonged hospital stays, re-interruption of anticoagulation, and re-operations.

SourceUniversity of Ottawa Heart Institute·JournalNew England Journal of Medicine·DateMay 9, 2013

New advance in biofuel production

Joint BioEnergy Institute researchers have made a breakthrough in biofuel production by developing an enzyme-free ionic liquid pre-treatment method. This technique reduces the cost of producing advanced biofuels and decreases water consumption, making it a more sustainable alternative to traditional methods.

SourceDOE/Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory·JournalBiotechnology for Biofuels·DateMay 9, 2013

Turning old hearts

Harvard Stem Cell Institute researchers have identified a protein, GDF-11, that reverses the effects of aging on mouse hearts. The protein was found to reduce heart size and thickness, similar to healthy younger mice.

SourceHarvard University·JournalCell·DateMay 9, 2013

Exit discovered in cellular garbage truck

A team of researchers led by Professor Jean Gruenberg has identified an exit in the cellular garbage truck, a structure responsible for sorting molecules and ensuring inter-cell digestion and regulation. The study reveals how Alix protein uses this route to avoid cellular digestion and how vesicular stomatitis uses it to infect cells.

SourceUniversité de Genève·JournalDevelopmental Cell·DateMay 9, 2013

Patients should have right to control genomic health information

Bioethicists argue that patients should not be forced to receive genomic information about future health risks without their consent. The ACMG recommendations on reporting incidental findings in clinical genome sequencing are seen as problematic due to concerns over patient autonomy and cost implications.

SourceCell Press·JournalTrends in Biotechnology·DateMay 9, 2013

Early infant growth rate linked to composition of gut microbiota

A study published in PLOS Computational Biology found a link between the composition of an infant's gut microbiota and their growth rate. The researchers identified specific bacterial groups associated with expected or reduced growth rates, shedding light on the potential impact of early life gut microbiota on infant development.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS Computational Biology·DateMay 9, 2013

NASA's Hubble Space Telescope finds dead stars 'polluted with planet debris'

Researchers have found evidence of building blocks for Earth-sized planets in the atmospheres of two burned-out stars called white dwarfs. The silicon and low levels of carbon in these dead stars suggest that asteroid-like debris is falling onto them, potentially creating rocky planet assembly around stars.

SourceNASA/Goddard Space Flight Center·JournalMonthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society·DateMay 9, 2013

Mapping the embryonic epigenome

A large research team elucidated how precise chemical modifications across the genome turn genes on and off during early human development. The study found that master genes governing development are silenced by histone methylation, while genes orchestrating cellular differentiation are primarily silenced by DNA methylation.